Memorial Day and Grammar

01Memorial Day is an American holiday that honors the memory of people who died while serving in the U.S.

02military.

03This year, it will be celebrated on Monday, May 27.

04You might read or hear about Memorial Day ceremonies in the United States.

05The American president, for example, often gives a speech.

06In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore the connection between Memorial Day, grammar, and speeches.

07It might sound strange to you, but ceremonies can teach you a lot about the English language, particularly verbs and adjectives.

08Let's start our report with part of a speech given by former President Ronald Reagan in 1984.

09Reagan uses terms such as recall, which means to remember, and words such as valor, meaning bravery or courage.

10A few verbs—honor, recall, remember—play an important part in Reagan's speech.

11English—these verbs are all in the simple form.

12English has several verb forms.

13The simple and the progressive are two of them.

14English speakers are more likely to use the simple form than the progressive form, particularly in speaking.

15English speakers are more likely to hear, we honor, instead of, we are honoring, or we recall, instead of, we are recalling.

16Specifically, Reagan used what is called the simple present, the simple form of the verb in the present.

17But the so-called simple present does not always line up exactly with the present time.

18Reagan uses the simple present to describe something that is generally true about Memorial Day.

19He is not exactly talking about only the present moment in time.

20This idea is somewhat difficult, and it raises an important issue.

21English verb forms, sometimes called tenses in grammar books, do not always cleanly line up with exact points in time.

22Another Memorial Day speech, given in 1914 by former President Woodrow Wilson, can teach us about some of the language choices American presidents often make when giving speeches.

23Wilson suggested that Americans are sometimes known to be careless in their choice of words.

24He added, yet it is interesting to note that there are some words about which we are very careful.

25As an example, Wilson said Americans use the adjective great in many different situations.

26But, he added, there is another word Americans are very careful to use, the adjective noble.

27We never call a man noble who serves only himself, Wilson said.

28Many other American presidents have been careful in using noble in their Memorial Day speeches as well.

29For example, Reagan, in the same 1984 speech from earlier in this report, said the following.

30A grateful nation opens her heart today in gratitude for their sacrifice, for their courage, and for their noble service.

31Although today's report discussed American presidents, speeches, and language choices, you can use the general ideas in many different situations.

32For example, think of a ceremony or remembrance in your own country.

33Think about what kinds of verbs and adjectives speakers of your language use in that situation.

34Then compare your own language to the kinds of choices that English speakers might make.

35And although the idea of Memorial Day is serious, you can use some of the ideas you learned today to talk about fun, light-hearted celebrations.

36Think of how to use the simple present to talk about activities that usually take place on that day.

37And think about specific adjectives that are correct for the event.

38I'm John Russell.

39I'm John Russell.

40I'm John Russell.