Why, why, why ?

Question

Why are there so many questions?

Just because we can ask them, Welcome to the forum, complicated name! - pacofinkler, Jun 30, 2011

Answer 1

I often think why are there so many stupid questions, if you get my drift.

drifting with Eddy! - pacofinkler, Jun 30, 2011

On driftwood with eddy! - 0043ad50, Jun 30, 2011

i agree - gafkjghdskjlfh, Jun 30, 2011

Answer 2

The main reason is because people don't browse (much less search for) prior threads on the same topic. If one were to eliminate the repeat questions, it would reduce our repository by at least half. If one eliminated the questions that can easily be answered by consulting a decent dictionary, that would get rid of another 50%. Another 10-15% could be eliminated by removing the silly homework questions from 4th/5th graders such as "What are three animals whose names end in 'z'. (If I were running a school, I would be strongly tempted to dismiss any teacher who gave such a stupid assignment.)

Of whatever would remain after such pruning, fully half are from English "speakers" who never really learned about the grammar of their own language. English has a subjunctive (albeit, used less frequently but the principles are the same), it has agreement of number with nouns (demonstrative adjectives, actually), it has the same tenses (the usage/frequency of use differs somewhat but the basics are the same). The only really big difference is the grammatical gender of nouns (but this is, simply, a matter of brute force memorization). Finally, one could reduce by another 50% the questions if people would simply accept the fact that Spanish (or any other language) is not English. There is no reason to expect the same word order. There is no reason to expect parallel syntactic constructions. Other languages are other languages. Suck it up and move on!

Samdie I agree with much of what you said but are you trying to eliminate all questions from the forum? lol heheh - FELIZ77, Jun 30, 2011

Isn't that why people can get PHD's in language? I took English as a Second Language for Teachers classes and learned oodles about my native tongue. It taught me to ask more questions that's for sure! - KarenOregon, Jul 1, 2011

Answer 3

English has a subjunctive (albeit, used less frequently but the principles are the same), it has agreement of number with nouns (demonstrative adjectives, actually),

Your comment about English subjuctive is refreshing to hear. It seems that most native English speakers don´t even know of its existence.

True - GuitarWarrior, Jul 1, 2011

Answer 4

but are you trying to eliminate all questions from the forum?

Not at all. The percentages that I mentioned are very casual estimates. I would guess that about 10% of the questions asked really are interesting. The ones that I object to are those that could be answered with a tiny bit of research or reflection.

I agree with you in that - pacofinkler, Jul 1, 2011

Answer 5

Sorry ! But I do not want to know of its existence , life is complicated enough

without having to learn of something I can barely pronounced let alone understand.

Move over Eddy I want to drift along with you and try and work out ,why "lo que" ?