Grammar

It is an odd thing, grammar. I am particularly fascinated by verbs. Those who knew me when I was a kid can testify to grammar not being my favourite subject, but it has grown on me with time.Various languages have their own way of using verbs. In some, verbs are conjugated according to time, subject matter and the importance of the person one is talking to. In others, they are barely conjugated at all and all relevant information is found through other grammatical instruments.

Personally, I find it all very confusing when learning it, but usually rather useful once I get the system. And particular the way in which verbs can refer to actions at different places in time relative to the conversation one is having.

Let me give you an example. This moment – right here and now – will soon change. Yesterday it was the future – or perhaps even conditional. Now, it’s the present. And tomorrow… Well, you get the idea.

And hence, New Year’s Eve becomes a matter of grammar. 2006 will soon be relegated from present to past tense. The «what are we doing» becomes «what we achieved».
2006 was a very good year in my book. Indeed, I believe that the remaining days will be as well.

I turned thirty in 2006. I can hardly take credit for that since all I had to do was breathe and occasionally remember to look both ways before crossing the street. But it was fun. I celebrated with family and friends and have very fond memories of the event.

I got married in 2006. I went from fiancé to husband (which is a change in noun more than verb – but very memorable none the less) and again, our family and friends were there. Until that day, it was all in the future – difficult to grasp. That didn’t change during the wedding. The event was simply too big to fathom. But in time, it has started to sink in as wedding became past tense and marriage settled in as the new present. And it promises a great future.

By comparison, changing job was almost a minor event. I left the public sector for private sector employment. I love the new job and all my new colleagues – but will admit that I also miss the people I don’t work alongside anymore.

When referring to the points of change themselves – the birthday, the wedding and the job change – this will be described by verbs in the past tense. But the results are very much in the present: thirty-something, husband and corporate economist. So the grammar strikes back again: the verbs may change but they often denote simply the change itself. The nouns reflect the results.

I went through the change in verbs along with friends, family and colleagues and I am living my nouns with you all as well. If I should have just one New Year’s resolution, it is that I want to spend even more time with you all. Happy New Year and may 2007 give us many exciting verbs and nouns together.

PS: I think nouns are a lot easier to deal with than verbs - simpler grammar and all that.