In a previous post, I analyzed why I keep making the same grammar mistake over and over again. My mistake occurs when I say or write a sentence that has a direct object.  Recently, I was talking in a conversation group about a bear I had seen. I said, <<Γενικά, οι αρκούδες φοβούνται οι άνθρωποι>>,  I should have said, <<Γενικά, οι αρκούδες φοβούνται τους ανθρώπους>>. I frequently forget the change that is needed in the direct object, for example from <<οι άνθρωποι>> to <<τους ανθρώπους>>.

I came to the conclusion that my mistake has the following causes:

-I rush when trying to speak
-Maybe I don’t understand the grammar
-The mistake is fossilized or “stuck”

My plan to fix the mistake has 3 steps:

1. Slow down!! – My main goal is to reduce the number of times I make the error by slowing down when I speak in Greek. Generally, I think communication should take precedence over correct grammar, but in this case, I want to fix a particular issue. My secondary goal is to recognize and fix the mistake myself if I do make it. So many times, I don’t even realize I’ve made the mistake. (By the way, someone had already given me the advice to slow down – but, I still had to do the research for myself).
2. Check the grammar – I own both the <<Ελληνικά Β>> workbook published by Patakis and the <<Greek Today>> textbook by Peter Bien. They are excellent resources for grammar information, so I will consult them to ensure I understand the grammar.
3. Undo the fossilized learning – In order to “unstick” the error, my plan is to find 10 sentences and write 10 others that contain the correct grammar and then read each of the sentences at least once a day for a few weeks.

PROGRESS UPDATE!

It has been several weeks since I started the plan. After checking my grammar books, I feel confident that I understand the grammar and how it works. I felt super successful last week in a lesson when I caught and corrected a mistake before the teacher mentioned it. Yay! For part 3, I’ve been reading the example sentences that I compiled, some of which are listed below.

From Το Άλογο Και Το Αγόρι Του (Κ. Σ. Λιούις) :

• <<Γιατί σε αυτή τη λιμνούλα κοιτούσε ο Ερημίτης όταν ήθελε να μάθει τι γινόταν στον κόσμο πέρα από τους πράσινους τοίχους της αυλής του.>> (σελίδα 171)
• <<Βλέπω έναν…δύο…τρεις αετούς να στριφογυρίζουν…>> (σελίδα 171)

From Ο Χάρι Πότερ και η Κάμαρα με τα Μυστικά (Τζ. Κ. Ρόουλινκ)

• <<Εντάξει, πάμε να εφαρμόσουμε τις νεές θεωρίες μας!>> (σελίδα 123)

Some that I wrote (including some irregular ones):

• Ξέρεις που είναι οι σκύλοι; Όχι, ψάχνω τους σκύλους τώρα.
• Ξέρεις εκείνους τους άνδρες;
• Οι αρκούδες φοβούνται τους ανθρώπους.
• Η αρκούδα φοβάται τον άνθρωπο.
• Οι άνδρες πίνουν τους καφέδες τους.
• Πότε χρησιμοπιούμε την αιτιατική; (χα χα. Είναι λίγο αστείο, γιατί χρησιμοποιήσα την αιτιατική!)

Can you write your own example in Greek?