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

--- John Cowan <cowan@...> wrote:
> 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".
I wouldn't count that as evidence! I have "whole
lot" in for example a song lyric, but wouldn't
normally say that phrase; and if I did, would
still have no problem understanding alot as one
word. I can also stick a four letter word any
lodamnedcation I please. I wouldn't call
"location" two words on that count, just because
I can put a four letter word there.

I think the end result is that English grammar
isn't quite the tame beast it's presented to be
in the grammar books! Clearly there are Things
going on that are difficult to deal with.
Especially since folks more in the know than me
are having some difficulty here.

It also seems that the lines are drawn down
prescriptive v. descriptive viewpoints.

Padraic.


=====
la cieurgeourea provoer mal trasfu ast meiyoer ke 'l andrext ben trasfu.


--

Ill Bethisad --
<http://www.geocities.com/elemtilas/ill_bethisad>


Come visit The World! --
<http://www.geocities.com/hawessos/>







.

Reply