TOEFL

Word endings are important in English because they convey grammar, ie they pass on meaning.

English uses a system of about a dozen word endings to express grammatical meaning—the -ing for present time, -s for possession and plurality, and the -ed for the past, to mention only a few.

But Chinese speakers of English always omit the ending of the word! Why is that?

Well, of course, the Chinese language is made up of single syllable words, so you are not used to going beyond one syllable. You never consider the ending of the word.

Some people even think it is not important to get the ending right.

Well, it is important; and your English will sound so much better if you can get those endings right.

Native speakers begin to pick up the word endings before age four, that is after speaking for less than two years! And by the age of six they are making no more mistakes in their word endings.

So, come on . . . it's not impossible for you. The aquisition of these gramatical structures, however, will be gradual. But you have to be aware of their importance, you have to realize that you are continually making mistakes, and begin to make that progress.

Oh, and while we are talking about such things, don't forget those articles the, a,and an that you like to omit and of course the auxiliary verb is and are.