Bad English

grahamvtr1000 · 08-01-2009, 11:54 PM

Ok I know it has no effect on the game play but i am sick of seeing things like this

On MM there are quiz questions, one reads like this

What year was Ajax formed?

That should read....

What year WERE Ajax formed?

(Were not was!)

This is one of many questions like this, that is just an example.

Multi Million Dollar company and the English is awful!

Sorry it just really bugs me.

Doc · 09-01-2009, 12:00 AM

noticed that myself, thought to myself it must be the dev team's sons and daughters coming up with the questions because some are basic and the others nobody would ever know the answer to unless they google'd it.

JUVENTUSFOREVER · 09-01-2009, 12:03 AM

Not as important as other stuff EA needs working on, you understand what it says mate! most people who play football games all the time tend to care less for literature/language.

I didn't actually notice this, but gramatically you are right they are incorrect fairly often but most of these quiz questions are pretty awful and not many read them!

CaseyJones77 · 09-01-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamvtr1000

Ok I know it has no effect on the game play but i am sick of seeing things like this

On MM there are quiz questions, one reads like this

What year was Ajax formed?

That should read....

What year WERE Ajax formed?

(Were not was!)

This is one of many questions like this, that is just an example.

Multi Million Dollar company and the English is awful!

Sorry it just really bugs me.

Sorry, but actually you're wrong.

Ajax is a club, one club. So in that instance, "was" is the correct word to use.

I know it seems weird...I felt the same way when I was doing my journalism degree, but that is the correct English to use.

Leo5445 · 09-01-2009, 12:29 AM

There are actually 2 ways of doing this. Those who speak British English (as I do) use 'were', whilst those speaking American English use 'was'. Both are considered correct. I'm assuming that EA went with American English, seeing as how they're based in Canada. Then again, I'm not sure which English they use there, or if the questions were indeed written by Canadians and not Brits.

CaseyJones77 · 09-01-2009, 12:30 AM

^Ah true, good point. I'd forgotten about the American English/British English thing.

In this example, it seems like they've gone with British English, which surprises me as I would have thought they'd have gone with American English.

Leo5445 · 09-01-2009, 12:37 AM

Sorry to nitpick, but they went with American English here (Americans use 'was')

CaseyJones77 · 09-01-2009, 12:38 AM

haha that's alright.
i'm learning so that's cool.

i'm surprised that my university course taught me the American English for this situation though, but at least we've cleared it up

Btw, i noticed you're from Malta...one of my favourite places in the world! awesome.

grahamvtr1000 · 09-01-2009, 12:41 AM

clubs etc are generally not regarded as 'one' due to the fact many parts make a club, if that makes sense.

As for American English, that makes it wrong as English is English that comes from er, England (wow do i sound sarcastic!!

)

Leo5445 · 09-01-2009, 12:43 AM

Cool

Have you ever been here?

You'd be surprised at how many people never even heard of Malta hehe.

Are you taking your course in America or a European country?
(if you want to read up on differences between AmE. and BrE, there's a pretty handy wiki article you can look at American and British English differences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

CaseyJones77 · 09-01-2009, 12:43 AM

^yeah i know lol

but the way i was taught was that Ajax, for example, are one club. Which makes sense aswell.

Confusing...and probably why there's two different versions of saying it, as both make sense in their own way

^and thanks
and yeah i've been to Malta 3 times now, absolutely love it.
the first time we went, we found a little place called Peter's Pool, which only the locals knew and it was beautiful. but when we went back a few years later...it was over-run by tourists and they'd all scribbled their names and things into the sandwalls. was depressing. but yeh, really beautiful country, and i hope to go there many times more, and maybe even retire there in the very distant future

Leo5445 · 09-01-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamvtr1000

clubs etc are generally not regarded as 'one' due to the fact many parts make a club, if that makes sense.

As for American English, that makes it wrong as English is English that comes from er, England (wow do i sound sarcastic!!

)

True, in my opinion British English is the 'correct' English, but sadly the Americans have taken it and made some changes.

The one thing that really infuriates me is the saying "I could care less." IT makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. What the speaker is saying in that instance is that he could actually care less about the topic at hand, which implies that he does care about it. The proper way to say this is "I couldn't care less", which is actually grammatically correct.

I'm sorry if I come across as being a know-it-all, but this is one of very few subjects that I take interest in (football is obviously one of those subjects

)

Leo5445 · 09-01-2009, 12:51 AM

CaseyJones, that happens a lot in Malta unfortunately. In actual fact, we Maltese very rarely have the chance to enjoy the wonders of our island, as all the nicest locations are overrun with tourists. However, our economy would collapse without them, so there are two sides to this. If you ever come here again, feel free to drop by for a game of Fifa :-)

Aero_Bar_14 · 09-01-2009, 03:06 AM

British English (Which is what I have been taught in Australia) or American English aside I agree with Casey, the word "was" is correct for the reasons mentioned before about Ajax being one club.

cbcruz · 09-01-2009, 03:17 AM

-Ajax was one of the biggest clubs-
-Ajax were one of the biggest clubs-

Was is correct. Why? Because 'were' implies that it's more than one. If it reads: -Ajax and PSV were two of the biggest clubs.- Than it would be correct.

-Which year was Ajax founded-
-Which year were Ajax founded-

Was.

BMxJoga · 09-01-2009, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo5445

True, in my opinion British English is the 'correct' English, but sadly the Americans have taken it and made some changes.

The one thing that really infuriates me is the saying "I could care less." IT makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. What the speaker is saying in that instance is that he could actually care less about the topic at hand, which implies that he does care about it. The proper way to say this is "I couldn't care less", which is actually grammatically correct.

I'm sorry if I come across as being a know-it-all, but this is one of very few subjects that I take interest in (football is obviously one of those subjects

)

I don't think there is a 'correct,' English but there is different dialects. To say one is correct over the other in a way would be ignorant. But I get what you are saying at.

Roke87 · 09-01-2009, 03:47 AM

"Which Year Was Ajax Founded" makes alot more sense to me...

whatscripplin · 09-01-2009, 04:13 AM

sure you can say that the game uses american grammar rules but if you think about it when they have texts involving the words, "favorite" "favor" "color" etc, its actually spelled favourite, colour, favour.

angus777 · 09-01-2009, 04:31 AM

does anyone else also think that the questions are stupid and that they should be better

i reckon that there shold be a whole section of questions about the laws of the game

Aero_Bar_14 · 09-01-2009, 04:40 AM

There are a few questions on the laws. I got one the other day which asked,

"In what instances during a game can you not be called offside?" (Something like that anyway)

A. Corners

B. Throw Ins

C. Corners and Throw Ins

Pretty easy but still there are many young kids that play too..

whatscripplin · 09-01-2009, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aero_Bar_14

There are a few questions on the laws. I got one the other day which asked,

"In what instances during a can you not be called offside?" (Something like that anyway)

A. Corners

B. Throw Ins

C. Corners and Throw Ins

Pretty easy but still there are many young kids that play too..

you don't make sense.

Aero_Bar_14 · 09-01-2009, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatscripplin

you don't make sense.

What do you mean??

The guy above said they should have questions about laws of the game. I gave an example of a question I saw on the game about one of the laws of the game.

What doesn't make sense?? Except for the fact I missed the word game in my question..

thatguy1990 · 09-01-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aero_Bar_14

What do you mean??

The guy above said they should have questions about laws of the game. I gave an example of a question I saw on the game about one of the laws of the game.

What doesn't make sense?? Except for the fact I missed the word game in my question..

now it makes sense

GreatNumberFour · 09-01-2009, 09:08 AM

Neither is incorrect. A club as an entity can be considered as an "it" or a "they", both are acceptable.

Smoooooochy · 09-01-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo5445

True, in my opinion British English is the 'correct' English, but sadly the Americans have taken it and made some changes.

The one thing that really infuriates me is the saying "I could care less." IT makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. What the speaker is saying in that instance is that he could actually care less about the topic at hand, which implies that he does care about it. The proper way to say this is "I couldn't care less", which is actually grammatically correct.

I'm sorry if I come across as being a know-it-all, but this is one of very few subjects that I take interest in (football is obviously one of those subjects

)

yup - unfortunately the yanks have ruined our language. all the double negatives and nonsense. no offense, but its painful to listen to sometimes.

i also get ****ed off with all this international english ****. english is englilalalala should be english and americanese imho.

08-01-2009, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
grahamvtr1000 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7	Bad English Ok I know it has no effect on the game play but i am sick of seeing things like this On MM there are quiz questions, one reads like this What year was Ajax formed? That should read.... What year WERE Ajax formed? (Were not was!) This is one of many questions like this, that is just an example. Multi Million Dollar company and the English is awful! Sorry it just really bugs me.

09-01-2009, 12:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Doc EA Veteran Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Room 505 Age: 24 Gender: Male Posts: 13,621	noticed that myself, thought to myself it must be the dev team's sons and daughters coming up with the questions because some are basic and the others nobody would ever know the answer to unless they google'd it. __________________ And now my fears They come to me in threes So, I Sometimes Say, "Fate my friend, You say the strangest things I find, sometimes"

09-01-2009, 12:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
CaseyJones77 Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: South East England, UK Posts: 895	^Ah true, good point. I'd forgotten about the American English/British English thing. In this example, it seems like they've gone with British English, which surprises me as I would have thought they'd have gone with American English. __________________ Last edited by CaseyJones77; 09-01-2009 at 12:32 AM..

09-01-2009, 12:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
Leo5445 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zejtun, Malta Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 695	Sorry to nitpick, but they went with American English here (Americans use 'was') __________________ PSN: Leo5445

09-01-2009, 12:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
CaseyJones77 Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: South East England, UK Posts: 895	haha that's alright. i'm learning so that's cool. i'm surprised that my university course taught me the American English for this situation though, but at least we've cleared it up Btw, i noticed you're from Malta...one of my favourite places in the world! awesome. __________________

09-01-2009, 12:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
JUVENTUSFOREVER Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 777	Not as important as other stuff EA needs working on, you understand what it says mate! most people who play football games all the time tend to care less for literature/language. I didn't actually notice this, but gramatically you are right they are incorrect fairly often but most of these quiz questions are pretty awful and not many read them!

09-01-2009, 12:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Leo5445 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zejtun, Malta Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 695	There are actually 2 ways of doing this. Those who speak British English (as I do) use 'were', whilst those speaking American English use 'was'. Both are considered correct. I'm assuming that EA went with American English, seeing as how they're based in Canada. Then again, I'm not sure which English they use there, or if the questions were indeed written by Canadians and not Brits.

09-01-2009, 12:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
grahamvtr1000 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7	clubs etc are generally not regarded as 'one' due to the fact many parts make a club, if that makes sense. As for American English, that makes it wrong as English is English that comes from er, England (wow do i sound sarcastic!! )

09-01-2009, 12:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Leo5445 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zejtun, Malta Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 695	Cool Have you ever been here? You'd be surprised at how many people never even heard of Malta hehe. Are you taking your course in America or a European country? (if you want to read up on differences between AmE. and BrE, there's a pretty handy wiki article you can look at American and British English differences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) __________________ PSN: Leo5445

09-01-2009, 12:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
CaseyJones77 Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: South East England, UK Posts: 895	^yeah i know lol but the way i was taught was that Ajax, for example, are one club. Which makes sense aswell. Confusing...and probably why there's two different versions of saying it, as both make sense in their own way ^and thanks and yeah i've been to Malta 3 times now, absolutely love it. the first time we went, we found a little place called Peter's Pool, which only the locals knew and it was beautiful. but when we went back a few years later...it was over-run by tourists and they'd all scribbled their names and things into the sandwalls. was depressing. but yeh, really beautiful country, and i hope to go there many times more, and maybe even retire there in the very distant future __________________ Last edited by CaseyJones77; 09-01-2009 at 12:46 AM..

09-01-2009, 12:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
Leo5445 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zejtun, Malta Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 695	CaseyJones, that happens a lot in Malta unfortunately. In actual fact, we Maltese very rarely have the chance to enjoy the wonders of our island, as all the nicest locations are overrun with tourists. However, our economy would collapse without them, so there are two sides to this. If you ever come here again, feel free to drop by for a game of Fifa :-) __________________ PSN: Leo5445

09-01-2009, 03:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
Aero_Bar_14 Forum Guru Join Date: Dec 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1,360	British English (Which is what I have been taught in Australia) or American English aside I agree with Casey, the word "was" is correct for the reasons mentioned before about Ajax being one club.

09-01-2009, 03:17 AM	#15 (permalink)
cbcruz Elite Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: at home Age: 20 Gender: Male Posts: 9,374	-Ajax was one of the biggest clubs- -Ajax were one of the biggest clubs- Was is correct. Why? Because 'were' implies that it's more than one. If it reads: -Ajax and PSV were two of the biggest clubs.- Than it would be correct. -Which year was Ajax founded- -Which year were Ajax founded- Was.

09-01-2009, 03:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
Roke87 Rookie Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London, Ontario, CANADA Age: 22 Gender: Male Posts: 106	"Which Year Was Ajax Founded" makes alot more sense to me... __________________

09-01-2009, 04:13 AM	#18 (permalink)
whatscripplin Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 530	sure you can say that the game uses american grammar rules but if you think about it when they have texts involving the words, "favorite" "favor" "color" etc, its actually spelled favourite, colour, favour.

09-01-2009, 04:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
angus777 Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1	does anyone else also think that the questions are stupid and that they should be better i reckon that there shold be a whole section of questions about the laws of the game

09-01-2009, 04:40 AM	#20 (permalink)
Aero_Bar_14 Forum Guru Join Date: Dec 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1,360	There are a few questions on the laws. I got one the other day which asked, "In what instances during a game can you not be called offside?" (Something like that anyway) A. Corners B. Throw Ins C. Corners and Throw Ins Pretty easy but still there are many young kids that play too.. Last edited by Aero_Bar_14; 09-01-2009 at 05:21 AM.. Reason: missed a word.

09-01-2009, 09:08 AM	#24 (permalink)
GreatNumberFour Forum Guru Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,873	Neither is incorrect. A club as an entity can be considered as an "it" or a "they", both are acceptable.