Re: USAGE : English past tense and participle in -et

Andreas Johansson scripsit:

> Even as indicator of degree?
>
> - How much do you hate the Romans?
> - Alot!
Absolutely.  I would have no hesitation with rewriting that as "a lot".
More evidence that it is two words, BTW, is the existence of "a whole lot"
(already mentioned), "a(n) @#$*ing lot", and even "a whole @#$*ing lot".
Almost any four-letter word will do here, including ones that begin with
a vowel, in which case it's "an".  You can even say "a (big) fat lot",
though "a big lot" invokes the literal sense of "lot" only.

This is the indefinite article followed by a bleached noun, and nothing
but.

--
John Cowan  www.ccil.org/~cowan  www.reutershealth.com  jcowan@reutershealth.com
In might the Feanorians / that swore the unforgotten oath
brought war into Arvernien / with burning and with broken troth.
and Elwing from her fastness dim / then cast her in the waters wide,
but like a mew was swiftly borne, / uplifted o'er the roaring tide.
        --the Earendillinwe

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