Re: CHAT: I saw it! I saw it! I saw it!
| From: | Joshua Shinavier <ajshinav@...> |
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| Date: | Wednesday, June 9, 1999, 7:46 |
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> Tom Wier wrote:
> > Well, when you think about it, it still is OSV: when a modal auxilliary is
> > used (I think), the auxilliary goes in the V position, with the infinitive
going
> > in the predicate phrase.
>
> Well, that still wouldn't explain "I cannot teach the boy. He has no
> patience", as opposed to "Teach the boy I cannot. No patience he has"
Yoda seems to use ordinary SVO whenever he's being serious, and OSV when
he's talking more informally (or, as an alternative interpretation, when
George Lucas wanted him to sound amusing). SVO English is, but OSV he
prefers...
Josh