Re: OT: WAY OT: Re: OT: Re: What? the clean-shaven outnumber the bearded?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andreas Johansson" <andjo@...>
To: <CONLANG@...>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 6:48 PM
Subject: Re: WAY OT: Re: OT: Re: What? the clean-shaven outnumber the
bearded?


> Quoting Robert B Wilson <han_solo55@...>:
>
> > On Sun, 18 May 2003 10:00:16 +1000 Tristan McLeay
> > <kesuari@...>
> > writes:
> > > Christophe Grandsire wrote:
> > >
> > > > God forbids!
> > >
> > > The expression is actually 'God forbid'. How nice of English to use
> > > different (archaic) grammatical rules in fixed phrases.
> >
> > actually, 'God forbid' is usually used as imperative, so this phrase
> > doesn't use "different (archaic) grammatical rules".
>
> Is it? If so, it should technbically be spelt "God, forbid", with a comma,
> right.
>
> It's never occured to me that it could be taken as anything but a
subjunctive.


I think it's a subjunctive, following the analogy of 'hallowed be thy name'.
And, of course, it's definitely archaic, the modern form would be 'Let God
forbid' or  'May God forbid'.

>                                                    Andreas
>

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