Is English an easy language to learn?

I'm a native speaker, but I love learning languages. I've always wondered what the hardest things are for people who aren't native English speakers. Whether it be certain accents, words, phrases that don't make sense, etc. So ESL Learners, what's the most difficult thing about English for you? How did you all learn to speak English so perfectly? I would think that 95% of you guys are native English speakers by the way that you write. What's more surprising is that some of you come from countries in which I've heard most of the population speaks little to no English, so I'm very curious as to how you all learned it so well. I was mostly just asking out of curiosity because the few people I know who speak more than one language either learned it when they were young from family or learned it on their own later on because U.S. schools don't do a good job with foreign languages.

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helenS · 36-40, F

In my opinion, English is [u]very[/u] difficult to learn, for a variety of reasons.
Example:
(a) speaking about the past:
I have waited
I have been waiting
I waited
I was waiting
I had waited
I had been waiting
The differences in meaning are very subtle.

(b) to + infinitive vs. gerund:
I like to go to the theatre
I like going to the theatre
Again, the meaning is slightly different, right? Or consider this example:
I stopped smoking (I quit)
I stopped to smoke (I stopped my car, to smoke a cigarette).

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People who think English is easy to learn are either native speakers, or people who do not know the language.

Dixi et salvavi animam meam.

uncleshawn · 41-45, M

@helenS That's interesting. In my experience, when someone says English is easy (or probably any language), it is very usually the person who slops out words and can be kind of understood in a general way but does not have command of the language.

uncleshawn · 41-45, M

@helenS What do you think of exceptions to rules? Such as irregular verbs. Is English odd/difficult in that regard?

helenS · 36-40, F

@uncleshawn I think in this regard, English is similar to other Germanic languages. Verbs that are irregular in English are usually irregular in German too, for example.
English: to spring – sprang – sprung
German: springen – sprang – gesprungen.
I think that's something non-native speakers simply have to learn.
Same with prepositions: "I cannot abide [b]by[/b] that rule." Why "by"? -- We have to learn it, together with the verb "to abide".

I believe the most difficult thing, in English, is developing (or is it to develop?) a feeling regarding the different verb forms which indicate the past. The difference between "I have waited" and "I have been waiting" is not exactly obvious.

Thanks for your comment, by the way!

Human1000 · M

@helenS Most native English speakers only use a few verb tenses, have inconsistent verb subject agreement, and often confuse subjects and objects.”Me and Jane went to the store.” Makes me crazy. Poor education or cultural identification are primary causes. And teenage girls, who tend to drive changes in usage.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Human1000 Perhaps, maybe using "me" as a subject in a sentence corresponds to French "moi"?
French has two pronouns to indicate the 1st person singular: "je" (je danse), and "moi" (Moi, je ne danse pas).)

Human1000 · M

@helenS If that is the cause of it, it’s been lost through time. Kids are tought the rule, but these days grammar is considered oppressive. When “literally” literally became “figuratively” I gave up.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Human1000 When it's about language, you appear to be conservative, and so am I.
I believe that services like Twitter have contributed a lot to the decline of language, English being the main victim.

jackson55 · M

@helenS Text speak.

helenS · 36-40, F

@jackson55 Yes, text speak. I even heard people [u]say[/u] "lol" (ell - oh - ell)! 😬

Human1000 · M

@helenS The history of Latin is fascinating. A Latin speaker in the Levant could communicate with one in Gaul. Isn’t that incredible? Rules! Once the Roman Empire declined, the split occurred.

Human1000 · M

@helenS That’s an interesting one. “Lol” is kind of a neologism. It indicates social approval and acknowledgment of humorous intent. Ironically, it does not mean actually laughing out loud!

jackson55 · M

@helenS One of my grandkids sends me text messages often and wonders why I don’t text back? When I say spell the word, she says it takes too much time.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Human1000 The Merriam-Webster has an entry "LOL"! 😏
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/LOL

Human1000 · M

@helenS Don’t get me started on the politics of “the Dictionary!” Lol.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Human1000 ROFL! 🤭

uncleshawn · 41-45, M

@helenS Thanks for the info.