Standard English
You learn to spot the words that are not Standard English and write the Standard form.
How to do the test
- Read the sentence as you would write it for school.
- Find the word that sounds like local speech.
- Swap it for the Standard English form.
A worked example
Tap the word that is not Standard English. I done my homework yesterday.
- In writing we say did: I did my homework yesterday.
- Done needs have or has before it.
- For the past, use did.
- Done is not Standard English.
More examples
Tap the word that is not Standard English. Look at them flowers.
- In writing we say those: Look at those flowers.
- Those points at things.
- Them does not.
- Them is not Standard English.
Tap the word that is not Standard English. He don't like cold milk.
- In writing we say doesn't: He doesn't like cold milk.
- He, she and it go with doesn't.
- Don't is not Standard English.
Watch out
You think a word is fine because you hear it every day.
Read the sentence as you would write it. Standard English says we were, I did and those flowers.
Tips
- Done, seen and gone need have or has. Without them, use did, saw and went.
Why it works
People speak in many ways, and that is fine. In writing at school we use Standard English, which is the same everywhere. Reading a sentence as you would write it makes the local form stand out.