{"id":813,"date":"2020-01-13T00:00:03","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T00:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/?p=813"},"modified":"2021-03-30T05:47:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T05:47:42","slug":"how-to-explain-exceptions-to-rules-without-saying-thats-just-the-way-it-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-exceptions-to-rules-without-saying-thats-just-the-way-it-is\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Explain Exceptions to Rules (Without Saying \"That's Just the Way It is\")"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-exceptions-to-rules-without-saying-thats-just-the-way-it-is\/#Get_Used_to_Exceptions_and_Variations\" >Get Used to Exceptions and Variations.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-exceptions-to-rules-without-saying-thats-just-the-way-it-is\/#Nature_is_Complicated\" >Nature is Complicated.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-exceptions-to-rules-without-saying-thats-just-the-way-it-is\/#Back_to_Language\" >Back to Language!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-exceptions-to-rules-without-saying-thats-just-the-way-it-is\/#%F0%9F%91%8B_Thats_it_for_now\" >\ud83d\udc4b That\u2019s it for now!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Sometimes, students get upset over variations in grammar and spelling. For example, they might demand to know why one native speaker writes, \u201che didn\u2019t <em>used<\/em> to swim\u201d and another, \u201che didn\u2019t <em>use<\/em> to swim.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s actually no right answer to questions like this. After all, reputable writers go both ways. However, some students want a clear \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d and will feel cheated unless given a rule. While their curiosity is respectable, this \u201cI. Must. Find. Rule\u201d mentality isn\u2019t the best approach to learning a language.<\/p>\n<p>We'll want to introduce them to a different (and more helpful) approach.<\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_Used_to_Exceptions_and_Variations\"><\/span>Get Used to Exceptions and Variations.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>Whether we\u2019re teaching students grammar, spelling, or pronunciation, we\u2019re bound to encounter exceptions. For example, we generally add an -s to words to make them plural (e.g. \u201ccats\u201d and \u201ctables\u201d). But, if the word ends in S, Z, SH, or CH sounds, we add -es:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cBoxes\u201c (box ends with an S sound)<\/li>\n<li>\u201cBrushes\u201c (brush ends with a SH sound)<\/li>\n<li>\u201cBeaches\u201c (beach ends with a CH sound)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Then, there are words that don\u2019t need an -s to be plural (e.g. \u201csheep\u201d, \u201cfish\u201d, and \u201cadvice\u201d) and words that have irregular plural forms (\u201cchildren\u201d, \u201cmice\u201d, and \u201cfeet\u201c), on top of many other exceptions (like how \u201cknife\u201d becomes \u201cknives.\u201d)<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26051958\/confusing-nouns.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"622\" height=\"307\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-809\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26051958\/confusing-nouns.png 622w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26051958\/confusing-nouns-300x148.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" \/><br \/>\nAnd if that\u2019s not enough, people from different countries also follow different rules. For example, the British say \u201cmy family are coming\u201d (family = plural), whereas Americans say, \u201cmy family is coming\u201d (family = singular).<\/p>\n<p>As we can see, due to all these exceptions and variations, a quest for a \u201crule to end all rules\u201d is doomed to fail. After all, language is a product of nature, and nature is complicated.<\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nature_is_Complicated\"><\/span>Nature is Complicated.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>In biology class, you\u2019ve probably learned that animals can be classified into different categories: mammals, reptiles, fish, birds, insects, etc.<\/p>\n<p>However, rather than thinking of these as rigid categories, it\u2019s better to realize that there\u2019s variation within each and every one of them. Every category includes animals that are typical and animals that are less so.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at some definitions of \u201cbird\u201d:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201canimal distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings, a beak, and typically by being able to fly\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.oxforddictionaries.com\/definition\/bird\">Oxford<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>\u201ca creature with feathers and wings, usually able to fly\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.cambridge.org\/dictionary\/english\/bird\">Cambridge<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Did you notice the words \u201ctypically\u201d and \u201cusually\u201d? Although these words make the definitions less precise, they provide useful information about a characteristic that most birds have: their ability to fly.<\/p>\n<p>So rather than expecting animal categories to be 100% clear-cut, it can be useful to think of animals as \u201ctypical\u201d and \u201cless typical.\u201d<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26051948\/prototypical-birds.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"618\" height=\"638\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26051948\/prototypical-birds.png 618w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26051948\/prototypical-birds-291x300.png 291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Back_to_Language\"><\/span>Back to Language!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>Similarly, rather than getting frustrated about how language isn\u2019t as logical as math, our students can try to think of language like biology. For example, when it comes to nouns, there are typical nouns (that pluralize with -s and -es) and less typical nouns:<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26052050\/prototypical-nouns.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"618\" height=\"640\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26052050\/prototypical-nouns.png 618w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2019\/12\/26052050\/prototypical-nouns-290x300.png 290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><br \/>\nIn other words, rather than thinking of language as a set of rules with exceptions, it\u2019s better to realize that, like biology, language is a product of the natural world, which has <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prototype_theory\">\u201ctypical\u201d and \u201cless typical\u201d characteristics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, language is constantly changing. Sometimes these changes make language simpler. An example of this is the fact that many words that came from Latin (e.g. \u201cmillennium,\u201d \u201ccactus\u201d) are increasingly being pluralized in the typical English way (e.g. \u201cmillenniums,\u201d \u201ccactuses\u201d instead of \u201cmillennia,\u201d \u201ccacti\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>And sometimes these changes make language more complicated. For example, recently, it has become common to use a noun after the word \u201cbecause\u201d in informal speech: \u201cgrammar rules have lots of exceptions, because ... language!\u201d<\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%91%8B_Thats_it_for_now\"><\/span>\ud83d\udc4b That\u2019s it for now!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>So, next time we meet a student who insists that there must be \u201cright\u201d and \u201cwrong\u201d answer to everything, we can introduce them to this different approach to language.<\/p>\n<p>Before searching for a rule, they can try searching for real-world usage examples on Google. For example, if searches for both \u201che didn\u2019t used to\u201d and \u201che didn\u2019t use to\u201d yield millions of results, then it\u2019s safe to say that both are probably acceptable in everyday communication.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no right or wrong answer. After all, language is complicated ... just like the natural world!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sometimes, students get upset over variations in grammar and spelling. For example, they might demand to know why one native speaker writes, \u201che didn\u2019t used to swim\u201d and another, \u201che didn\u2019t use to swim.\u201d There\u2019s...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":810,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"unified_meta_tagline_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-teaching-grammar"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Explain Exceptions to Rules (Without Saying &quot;That&#039;s Just the Way It is&quot;) | Engoo Tutor&#039;s Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-exceptions-to-rules-without-saying-thats-just-the-way-it-is\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Explain Exceptions to Rules (Without Saying &quot;That&#039;s Just the Way It is&quot;) | Engoo Tutor&#039;s Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sometimes, students get upset over variations in grammar and spelling. 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