[the invisib1e hand]

If it splings like a duck...

[infantrywhooah]

At what age do they learn to end sentences with prepositions?

“Where’s that duck, that likes to spling, at?”

Man that’s a pet peeve of mine!

[T Minus Four]

Spling Ping!

[Revolting cat!]

Into it if what?

[Question Liberal Authority]

In a study conducted by the University's Child Language Study Centre, children aged between six and nine were given sentences containing made-up verbs such as 'the duck likes to spling'

Um, I know I'm not smarter than a 6 year old here, but I'm pretty sure that in the sentence above, the verb is "likes".

[T Minus Four]

spling, splung, sploing

[Zeppo]

Splunge...

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

So, what happens to them after age six, when most become functionally illiterate?

[wastedyears]

Holy cow, I had horrible teachers.

[OldEagle]

This is the logical extension of New Math. When I was young I studied a few languages including English. While I am far from expert, I can say that grammar in any language is not intuitive. There are rules and exceptions that must be learned. Period!

[ThomasThomas]

My conclusion:

Linguistics students at the University of California, Los Angeles are smart as six year olds.