Confusing English Grammar For New Learners

This is a two-panel meme joking about the extreme confusion English grammar causes for new language learners. The top panel features Lisa Simpson from *The Simpsons* standing below a projection screen displaying the grammatically-valid but very confusing sentence: "Before was was was, was was is". Below this, a text label reads "People learning English", and the bottom panel shows a real man with glasses screaming in panic and confusion while leaning against a wall. The joke works because the sentence is actually logically and grammatically correct (it discusses the history of the word 'was' itself: before the word "was" was known as "was", it was previously "is"), but to new English learners the repeated use of the same word looks like complete nonsense, perfectly capturing the frustration of learning confusing English rules.

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Before was was was, was was is

Overview

This is a two-panel meme joking about the extreme confusion English grammar causes for new language learners. The top panel features Lisa Simpson from The Simpsons standing below a projection screen displaying the grammatically-valid but very confusing sentence: "Before was was was, was was is". Below this, a text label reads "People learning English", and the bottom panel shows a real man with glasses screaming in panic and confusion while leaning against a wall. The joke works because the sentence is actually logically and grammatically correct (it discusses the history of the word 'was' itself: before the word "was" was known as "was", it was previously "is"), but to new English learners the repeated use of the same word looks like complete nonsense, perfectly capturing the frustration of learning confusing English rules.

Origin notes

This meme originates from a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the user WholesomeMeme, as noted in the source metadata. It is a composite meme that combines two pre-existing popular assets: Lisa Simpson from the animated series The Simpsons, edited into a presentation format, and the popular "panicked screaming man hiding behind door" meme template, used here to show the extreme reaction of confused English learners.

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