All Ears English Podcast - Episode 2414: Why Do Native English Speakers Make This Mistake?

Hosts: Lindsey McMahon and Aubrey Carter
Release Date: May 26, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 2414 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsey McMahon and Aubrey Carter delve into the intriguing topic of why native English speakers occasionally make grammatical mistakes. This episode is sparked by a listener's question about the usage of the word "rethunk," prompting an in-depth exploration of common grammatical errors, their origins, and their implications for English learners.

Listener Question: The Case of "Rethunk"

The episode begins with a listener named Mauro reaching out with an interesting query:

Aubrey Carter [03:02]: "I have a question for you. The other day I was watching an interview and the guy said, 'so then I rethunk the whole way I approached playing.' The whole way I approached playing, I was intrigued by the word rethunk. Maybe I heard it wrong. Is it the past tense of rethink? Because I could not find it in Merriam Webster."

Lindsey and Aubrey confirm that "rethunk" is not a standard past tense of "rethink" and proceed to dissect why such mistakes occur even among native speakers.

Common Grammar Mistakes Among Natives

The discussion reveals that "rethunk" likely arises from confusion with irregular verbs. While "thought" is the correct past tense of "think," regional dialects and speech patterns can lead to variations like "rethunk." Aubrey explains:

Aubrey Carter [05:08]: "Thought is the past tense of think. I thought. So it should be, I thought. Anything else is a mistake."

Lindsey adds that similar errors are prevalent with other irregular verbs:

Lindsey McMahon [05:32]: "Yeah, and other mistakes that we hear a lot. Aubry. I mean, here's an example. 'She's ran a lot this week.' And again, just to be clear, this is a mistake. Right. We should say 'she has run a lot this week.'"

Regional and Contextual Influences

The hosts explore how regional dialects and education levels influence these grammatical errors. They note that certain mistakes are more common in specific areas and social settings:

Aubrey Carter [06:09]: "There are a lot of past tense verbs that you'll hear errors with in the United States."

Lindsey McMahon [07:09]: "I don't think it's as clean as saying in the East vs. West. I mean, definitely there are parts too."

They emphasize that factors such as region, rural vs. urban settings, and the company one keeps all play roles in how language is used and how errors manifest.

Intentional Usage for Humor and Self-Deprecation

Interestingly, not all grammatical mistakes are accidental. Sometimes native speakers intentionally use incorrect forms for humorous or self-deprecating purposes. Aubrey describes scenarios where speakers might say "rethunk" on purpose:

Aubrey Carter [09:21]: "It's this idiomatic chunk that you're intentionally using this."

Lindsey McMahon [10:37]: "It's like they're knocking themselves over the head as they say that. Like 'I thought what I thunk.' Right. It's like, oh, I was so silly in that moment."

This intentional misuse serves as a rhetorical device to lighten the conversation or acknowledge a mistake in a playful manner.

Examples and Role-Plays

To illustrate these points, Lindsey and Aubrey engage in a role-play demonstrating the use of informal expressions like "derp" and "doy." For instance:

Aubrey Carter [11:04]: "I think you left your water bottle at my house, Lindsay."

Lindsey McMahon [11:08]: "Oh, derp. I leave that thing everywhere. That is derp."

They further showcase how these expressions function similarly to "oops" or "whoops," conveying acknowledgment of a minor mistake in a lighthearted way.

Additional Resources and Related Episodes

The hosts recommend additional resources for listeners interested in related topics, such as the Business English Podcast Episode 380, which discusses how to articulate mistakes in a professional setting:

Aubrey Carter [14:34]: "There's a great episode over on the Business English Podcast 380."

They caution that the informal phrases discussed in this episode are not suitable for workplace environments, highlighting the importance of contextual appropriateness in language use.

Conclusion

Lindsey McMahon and Aubrey Carter conclude the episode by reinforcing the complexity of native speaker grammar usage. They stress the importance for English learners to understand these nuances to navigate real-world conversations effectively. By dissecting both accidental and intentional grammatical variations, the episode provides valuable insights into the dynamic nature of the English language.

Lindsey McMahon [15:31]: "This has actually been a very high-level episode because we're talking about using sarcasm. We're talking about making fun of ourselves in our grammatical choice to make a grammatical mistake."

The hosts encourage listeners to stay tuned for more episodes that unravel the intricacies of English, emphasizing the podcast's mission of fostering connection over perfection.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Aubrey Carter [03:02]: "So it might have just been a grammar mistake, but possibly a grammar error that is very common in their regional dialect."
• Lindsey McMahon [07:09]: "Education level would influence that. Where we live, who we're around would. These are all factors that could influence that."
• Aubrey Carter [09:21]: "If Maro heard this on an interview, it's impossible to know actually if it was a grammar mistake."
• Lindsey McMahon [14:17]: "So this is not so much the scenario where we want to speak like the people around us or that we don't know the grammar."

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for English learners to understand the subtle and sometimes perplexing grammatical variations among native speakers, enhancing their ability to engage in natural and effective conversations.