In deze korte zomercursus grammatica volgt hier Deel 3 (voor Deel 1: klik hier, voor Deel 2, klik hier). We nemen hierna een korte vakantie en keren eind augustus weer terug. Heeft u een onderwerp waar u meer over wil weten? Laat het ons weten. Prettige vakantie en tot in augustus!

7. The subjunctive

The following are common (and understandable) mistakes:
* We advise that the client reconsiders the offer
* We suggest that Mr Jones signs the contract as soon as possible

It should actually be:
* We advise that the client reconsider the offer
* We suggest that Mr Jones sign the contract as soon as possible.

Use of verbs such as suggest, recommend, propose, request etc. often require the use of a structure known as the Present Subjunctive which is used with verbs that express
opinion, belief, intention and desire. The subjunctive is formed with the base form (or
infinitive without ‘to’) of the verb.

For example:
* We request that the defendant be present at the meeting.
* We recommend that Mr Jones file a complaint.

I can imagine this is a strange concept for a Dutch speaker, but you will be relieved to hear that many native speakers make mistakes with this. I will be writing a more detailed blog on this particular language area in the autumn.

8. Standard phrases for emails and letters

Business correspondence in English is typified by use of ‘standard phrases’; so standard, that we don’t really like people playing around with them. Dutch writers are prone to
several mistakes with these phrases due to direct translation and a misconceived understanding of their usage. Here are some examples of mistakes I often come across:

Hereby/herewith:
Unlike Dutch, you can start a business email or letter with ‘I’ or ‘we’. Moreover, avoid
archaic words such as ‘hereby’ and ‘herewith’ in modern business correspondence.

• Hereby I attach …                                         I am attaching … OR Please find attached …

Send – sent:

• I have send it by courier.                                 I have sent …

The Past Particle of to send is sent, with a -t: to send – sent – sent.

Be so kind as to:
For some reason, a lot of Dutch writers omit the word ‘as’ from this phrase.

• Would you be so kind to reschedule the meeting?             Would you be so kind as to …    

Look forward to:
An understandable mistake. However, this construction falls into the area of English
grammar known as ‘gerunds and infinitives’. Note that the second verb always takes the gerund from (verb + -ing)

• I look forward to hear from you                     I look forward to hearing from you.
• I am looking forward to hear from you      I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Kindly:
Dutch writers are very fond of ‘kindly’. Firstly, it is not very common in business
correspondence. Secondly, if we were to use it, then only in requests e.g. I kindly request that ….

• Kindly be advised that …                     Please be advised that …
• I kindly refer to …                                    I would like to refer to…
• I kindly note the following …             I would like to note the following …

Voldoende geïnformeerd?
I hope to have informed you sufficiently  is not the way to say “Ik hoop u voldoende te hebben geïnformeerd”. This is a direct translation from Dutch. It is much better to write (for
example): Please do not hesitate to contact me should (OR if) you have any further questions.

More on standard phrases? Click here.

Happy writing!

“Iedere Nederlander die denkt dat Engels een gemakkelijke taal is, droomt”, zei Wout Wotz, (oud-NRC-correspondent Engeland) afgelopen zaterdag (lees hier). Deze week gaan we verder met de meest voorkomende grammaticale fouten die Nicola Courtney tegenkomt als zij door Nederlandstalige juristen geschreven stukken bekijkt. (Voor Deel 1, klik hier).

4. Present Perfect

Use (or non-use) of the Present Perfect has to be the most frequent mistake that I and my colleagues come across. There are, of course, rules surrounding its usage, but very often, use depends on the speaker’s/writer’s perception of the situation. The most common
mistakes include:

• I have studied in Leiden in 2003.             I studied in Leiden in 2003

You cannot use the Present Perfect to talk about a completed action in the past (e.g. in 2003, last year, yesterday etc.) – instead we use the Past Simple (studied, worked, was etc.) for completed actions in the past.

• I know him for three years now.              I have known him for three years (now)
• I work here for five years.                           I have worked OR have been working here

This mistake is due to direct translation from Dutch. However, in English, we use the Present Perfect to describe an action which began in the past and has continued into the present i.e. it is still going on. When describing how long something has been going on, you can use both the Present Perfect Simple (e.g. have/has worked) and Continuous (e.g. have/has been working). More on this subject: read here!

5. Adverbs and Adjectives

An adjective describes a noun (e.g. a bad driver) and an adverb describes a verb (e.g. he drives badly). Many Dutch speakers have the habit of using adjectives when they should be using an adverb. This non-use of adverbs can only be described as ‘sloppy’. When native speakers make this mistake (which they frequently do), it is considered ‘slang’. So, to avoid this mistake, remember this:

• Adjectives describe  nouns:                         It is an exceptional book.
• Adverbs describe a verbs:                             He considered their proposal carefully
• Adverbs describe adjectives:                       An extremely good film.
• Adverbs describe other adverbs:               An exceptionally well-written report.

Most ‘how’ adverbs are formed by adding –ly, -ally or –ily  to an adjective e.g.
slow – slowly / full – fully / dramatic – dramatically / steady – steadily

However, some adverbs and adjectives have the same form e.g.
fast / hard / early / daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly / high / low

Tip: if you can ask the ‘how’ question, you need an adverb e.g.

• Prices rose steadily.

Question: How did prices rise?                   Answer: They rose steadily.
More on adverbs & adjectives: read here.

6. ‘Directional’ verbs

A very common mistake Dutch speakers make is:

• The bank borrowed me money.                                        The bank lent me money
• My teacher learned me …                                                   My teacher taught me …
• I bring my son to school every day                                  I take my son to school every day

As you can see, English uses different verbs for different directions. For example, I borrow from the bank – the bank lends me money / a teacher teaches me and I learn (from the teacher) / I take something to one place – I bring something back etc.

A simple concept, but always a glaring mistake.

De komende drie weken zal Nicola Courtney hier telkens drie veelvoorkomende grammaticale fouten behandelen. Sommige probleemgevallen hebben we hier al eens uitgebreider besproken (als zo: klik door), op andere zullen we in de toekomst nog eens terugkomen.

Nicola: I have been asked to write a blog on the most ‘fossilised’ mistakes I come across when teaching legal professionals. Over the next three weeks, I will attempt to provide a short sharp ‘repair kit’ for those of you prone to these types of mistakes.

1. Present Simple versus Present Continuous

Although the rules surrounding the use of these two tenses appear to be straight-forward, Dutch speakers often misuse or confuse them. Typical mistakes include:
I am working mostly with brokers.                                           I work
I write you to confirm the handover of the property.       I am writing
Next week I go to Milan.                                                               I am going

Remember, we use the Present Simple (e.g. I work) for facts, habits and routines. We use the Present Continuous (e.g. I am working) to describe temporary states, actions happening at the moment of speaking/writing, trends and ‘diary future’ e.g. I am meeting him in Amsterdam on Monday. (read more in Correctness 1  and Correctness 9)

2. A/An

There is a question in the Branch Out Structure Test – more specifically question 9 in part A – which virtually nobody answers correctly: ‘They did not present___ united front during the negotiations’. Nearly everyone, understandably, answers ‘an united front’ instead of ‘a’.

Although the rule is we use ‘an’ with nouns which begin with a vowel (a, e, i, o and u), as is often the case in English, there are exceptions to this rule which are:

• If the vowel is pronounced as a consonant (non-vowel) sound we use ‘a’. The vowels in words such as united, uniform, European, one-man band, are pronounced as consonants so we would use ‘a’. However, we would say an umbrella, an expense, an
  opportunity as these are pronounced as vowels.
• ‘H’ is sometimes pronounced as a vowel e.g. an hour, an honest opinion, an heir.
  However, we would say/write a horse, a hurricane, a hotel etc.

Particularly in abbreviations, if the consonant is pronounced as a vowel, we use ‘an’ e.g. an MP, an FBI agent, an X-Ray, an MBA etc.

3. In case – if – when

These three conjunctions/phrases are frequently misused by Dutch (and other non-native) speakers. Examples of mistakes include:

• In case the broker fails to pay the damage claims, the insurer is still obligated towards the insured. It should be: If the broker…
• .When you need more information, please let us know.  It should be:  If you need…
  

1. If is used for conditions, possibilities and uncertainties
e.g. If I’m late, start without me.
2. When is used for time, general rules, general truths, certainties
e.g. When you fly business class, you have more legroom.
3. In case is used for actions taken as precautionary measures.
e.g. Leave your return flight open in case negotiations fail.

Dutch speakers often use ‘in case’ when they mean ‘if’. Try and remember that we use ‘in case’ to talk about things we do in advance in order to be safe or ready if there is a problem later. For example, if I say ‘I will insure my house if there is a fire’, it means I will wait until after the fire to insure my house. I, of course, want to insure my house before the fire and therefore need to use ‘in case’. The latter should not be confused with ‘in the case of’. (read more in Correctness 7 and Correctness 8)

Happy writing, and see you next week for three more!