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LANGUAGE! Focus on English Learning Overview
www.sopriswest.com/language
Focus on Academic Language
The LANGUAGE! Contrastive Analysis Charts assist teachers in understanding the difficulties
students may encounter when learning English. These charts highlight major differences
in phonology, orthography, morphology, and syntax between a student's first language
and Academic English.
Contrastive Analyses: Students' First Languages With English
Each chart identifies predictable areas of difficulty for native speakers of a particular language
who are learning English:
· Chinese
· Haitian Creole
· Hmong
· Khmer
· Korean
· Pilipino (Tagalog)
· Portuguese
· Russian
· Spanish
· Vietnamese
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations
These charts examine
contrasts between
Academic English and:
· African American
Vernacular English (AAVE)
· Appalachian English
· Hispanic American English
· Native American English
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
African
American
Vernacular
Contrastive Analyses:
American English Variations with Academic English
Phonological Variations
Morphological Variations
Syntactic Variations
Vowels
Merge of / / and / / before / m / and /
n /: pin ("pen"); him ("hem").
U7.L3.S1
Consonants
Stops
Voiced stops in stressed syllables
become voiceless: bak ("bag").
U2.L1.
S1; U3.L1.S1; U4.L2.S1; U6.L3.S1
Fricatives
/ d / replaces / th / in word-initial
position: dis ("this"); dat ("that").
U8.L4.S1; U12.L3.S1
/ v / replaces / th / in word-medial and
word-final position: mover ("mother");
bave ("bathe").
U8.L6.S1; U12.L5.S1
/ f / replaces / th / in word-medial
and word-final position: anyfing
("anything"); baff ("bath").
U8.L5.S1;
U12.L5.S1
Nasals
Reduction of / ng / to / n / in word-final
position: runnin' ("running").
U5.L3.S6;
U8.L9.S1
-ing replaced by -ang in single-syllable
words: thang ("thing"); rang ("ring").
U10.L1.S1
Lateral
/ l / may be produced as a separate
syllable at the end of words like cool/
coal.
U11.L8.S1
/ l / may be reduced or deleted in word-
medial or word-final position: he'p
("help"); fe ("feel"); metuh ("metal")
U11.L8.S1
Plural -s
Nouns ending in voiceless consonants
are made plural by adding / z / or by
deleting the final consonant: desez
or des' ("desks"); tesez or tes' ("tests")
U7.L5.S1
Deletion of
-s in "nouns of measure"
Tha' cos' five dolla' ("That costs five
dollars.").
U9.L5.S3
Third Person -s
-s in third person singular may be
deleted from regular verbs or added to
irregular verbs: He run. ("He runs."); We
goes there ("We go there.").
U4.L4.S3
Possession
Possessive
's is deleted in nouns. The
possessive relies more on position than
inflection: The man car ("The man's
car.").
U3.L8.S3; U6.L5.S3; U7.L2.S4;
U7.L7.S4
Possessive
's may be added to mine:
This is mine's ("This is mine.")
The possessive form whose replaced by
who: I don't know who car that is
("I don't know whose car that is.").
Overgeneralization of the singular past
tense was to both singular and plural
subjects: They was ("they were"); We
was ("we were").
U5.L8.S3; U8.L7.S4;
U12.L4.S4
Deletion of a form of be in the present
progressive occurs where Academic
English uses contractions: I startin' the
car. ("I'm starting the car."); She eatin'
rice ("She's eating rice.").
U5.L8.S3;
U9.L3.S4; U12.L4.S4
Been used to mark action that took
place earlier in time yet is still pertinent
(present perfect): I been know you
forever ("I have known you forever.").
Variations of the verb Be used to
indicate habitual action. He always be
doing this ("He is always doing this.").
U9.L7.S4
Use of had to indicate past tense: He
had told me that ("He told me that.").
Variations in subject-verb agreement
using do and have. She do that. ("She
does that."); You has to go ("You have to
go.").
U15.L5.S4; U17.L9.S4
Use of nonstandard irregular verbs in
past and past perfect tenses: We seen
that ("We saw that.").
Contrastive Analysis: American English Variations with Academic English
A45
Area of difficulty
keyed to the lessons