4 ms·
no one asked, but FYI in English it is more commmon to say "for several years" instead of "since some years" :)
by senbrow 10mo ago
no one asked, but FYI in English it is more commmon to say "for several years" instead of "since some years" :)
- phatfish 10mo agoGerman speakers usually have very good English, but this is one of their tells.
- lsecondario 10mo agoAnother one I've noticed is using "I've" as a contraction in e.g. "I've a meeting to attend". Seems totally reasonable but for some reason native speakers just don't use it that way.
- rottencupcakes 10mo agoI’ve is only used when there is a verb to follow and the have is part of the verb’s construction. As in “I’ve done it” or “I’ve seen it” It would not be used before a noun, in the context of ownership, as in “I have a meeting”
- deleted 10mo ago[deleted]
- darrenf 10mo agoWait, what? Englishman in my 50s here and I use phrases like that all the time — “I’ll be missing standup cos I’ve a GP appointment”, “leaving at lunchtime as I’ve a train to catch”, “gotta dash, I’ve chores to do”. No one’s ever said I sound German!
- mpyne 10mo agoI think it's more fair to call it a distinguisher of American English vs. British English. Even just reading "I've a train to catch" gives a British accent in my mind.
- timc3 10mo agoA particular part of Britain as well. I have never used “I’ve” in that way ( I speak more RP than with an accent)
- jamiek88 10mo agoNah that’s just Americans. Brits and Aussies say it all the time. Not sure about Canadians.
- Grosvenor 10mo agoGerman speakers usually have very good English, but this is already one of their tells. Fixed that for you.
- bxparks 10mo agoCould also be French speakers. They would say "J'utilise le format .avif depuis quelques années." I think the "depuis" throws off the French speakers when they translate that literally as "since some years" instead of "for some years". Another common tell: I wake up in the morning in the US/Pacific time zone, and see the European writers on HN using "I have ran" instead of "I have run".