Yes I ARE

As an English teacher I HATE when my students use incorrect grammar, especially when they use the wrong verb and/or verb tense. My pet peeve are students saying "You is" and  "I be".  I always reiterate that there are different times and places where you can speak a specific way.  I call it your professional speech and I am around my friends and family I can speak anyway I want.

I always correct my students and after constant reminders they begin to speak correctly (for the most part). So imagine me having to come home and hear my son say "Yes I are". Oh my god I wanted to SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I purposely speak correctly around him, so HE won't make this type of mistake.

Now...I understand he is learning the English language and children his age can make those errors. However, IT IS SO ANNOYING AND AGGRAVATING. Hearing that phrase makes me squirm in my seat. But, I am not going to let CW see me sweat.


I am using patience. I corrected him several times to ensure that he will answer the correct way.  I said, "No CW. You don't say yes I are. Instead you say yes I am." His response, "Okay, mommy I won't say yes I are. It's yes I am." A few minutes later I asked him if he was going to the bathroom. His response, "Yes I are!". In my head I am thinking we JUST had this conversation. It went in one ear and out the other. He didn't remember.

I reminded him of the conversation we had previously. And...I had him repeat the correct statement to me to ensure he remembers what to say. Now..he says he remembers. I guess I will find out shortly if he does.