When learning English, it can be tricky to understand how certain sentence structures work, especially when it comes to verbs like ‘show’ and ‘learn’. One common question that arises is why we say ‘he showed me how to swim’ but ‘I learn how to swim from her’, and whether it’s correct to say ‘I learn from her how to swim’. Let’s dive into the difference between these sentence structures and clarify why they are used the way they are.
1. ‘How to’ Sentences with ‘Show’ and ‘Learn’
In English, we use the phrase ‘how to’ when explaining how something is done, especially with verbs like ‘show’ and ‘learn’. The sentence ‘he showed me how to swim’ is correct because the structure follows the pattern of showing someone the method of performing an action. Here, ‘how to swim’ is an infinitive phrase explaining the action. In this context, the verb ‘show’ takes the direct object (‘me’) and the explanation of the action (‘how to swim’).
On the other hand, when we use the verb ‘learn,’ the sentence typically focuses on the subject’s experience in acquiring the skill. ‘I learn how to swim from her’ emphasizes the process of learning, with ‘how to swim’ as the skill being learned and ‘from her’ indicating the source of learning.
2. Why ‘I Learn from Her How to Swim’ Isn’t Common
The sentence ‘I learn from her how to swim’ is grammatically understandable, but it sounds awkward to native English speakers. The reason is that English tends to prefer a more natural word order. In English, it’s more common to place the source of the learning (‘from her’) earlier in the sentence. So, ‘I learn how to swim from her’ flows more naturally because ‘how to swim’ (the action being learned) is emphasized first, followed by the source of the learning (‘from her’).
This word order is important because it reflects the way we prioritize elements of a sentence. We generally lead with the main action or concept, followed by additional details like the source or location.
3. The Role of ‘How to’ in Both Cases
The phrase ‘how to’ is crucial in both sentences as it indicates the method or skill being learned. In ‘he showed me how to swim,’ the focus is on the action being demonstrated. In ‘I learn how to swim from her,’ the emphasis is on the process of learning and the person from whom the skill is acquired.
In both cases, ‘how to’ serves as a connector between the action (like swimming) and the method (how it is done). The difference is the verb used, which changes the focus of the sentence—either on showing or learning.
4. Conclusion: Why Sentence Structure Matters
The order of words in a sentence, especially with verbs like ‘show’ and ‘learn,’ significantly impacts how natural the sentence sounds. While ‘I learn from her how to swim’ is understandable, it’s less natural than ‘I learn how to swim from her’ because of the preferred sentence structure in English. Understanding these small differences in word order can help make your English sentences sound more fluent and natural.
To sum up, when forming sentences with ‘how to,’ it’s essential to consider the verb and the focus of the sentence. By practicing these structures, you’ll be able to express yourself more clearly and confidently in English.
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