From both ends: Image: gfpeckPart 39 of the Poligo Guide to Learning a Language.

♦

SECTION 4: This section explains how to divide the language into smaller parts and how to learn each part.

---

So far, we have talked about learning rules and patterns of language (grammar). That was the main point of the beginner level. Now we are talking about the intermediate level, when you really start to fly! In this part, we talk about pragmatics and idiom. When you read this, if you don't understand the examples, don't worry — that's exactly the point! Idiom is not easy, and the intermediate level will take you a long time (some people never truly pass the intermediate level).

Half full: Image: SFBNess via FlickrPart 38 of the Poligo Guide to Learning a Language.

♦

SECTION 4: This section explains how to divide the language into smaller parts and how to learn each part.

---

We talked in the last three parts about the beginner level. We divided the language into two main parts: the verb system and the noun system. You should take the time you need to cover these parts of the language. You should master each point (we'll talk about what that means below), but don't expect everything to be perfect. Remember that at the beginner level, you should be only looking at single sentences and examples. When you have a solid foundation, you are ready for the intermediate level.

damien rice: older chest: Photo: visualpanic via FlickrPart 37 of the Poligo Guide to Learning a Language.

♦

SECTION 4: This section explains how to divide the language into smaller parts and how to learn each part.

---

The noun system is all the language connected with talking about things in the world, that includes people, things, images and ideas etc. Nouns are used in the language to talk about all these things. Like the verb system, this has different types of elements:

(1) How nouns fit into a sentence. This is the most important aspect of a noun system. Nouns must somehow show their relationship to other words and parts of a sentence. An important part of this is how the nouns show the relation to the action described by the verb. We already touched on this above in part (1) of the verb system. This is the connection between the verb and noun systems.

The Double Precision Nest: Photo: Syntopia via FlickrPart 36 of the Poligo Guide to Learning a Language.

♦

SECTION 4: This section explains how to divide the language into smaller parts and how to learn each part.

---

The "verbal system" is all the parts of the language that are connected with talking about actions and events. This includes two basic things:

1. the way the verb fits into a sentence;
2. how verbs work.

(1) the way a verb fits into a sentence and how it connects to the other words in the sentence.*

This is usually done in one of two ways (or by using both together): (i) word order (like in English), i.e. SVO, SOV, OVS etc.; (ii) the use of special endings on nouns (like in German).

Some languages also connect verbs with nouns with prepositions (English) and with postpositions (like Japanese). So, the verbal system intersects and overlaps with the noun system. This is because verbs and nouns must connect somehow. If you decide to learn verbs first, just remember the nouns and other words in your examples and worry about understanding the details later.