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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
americanisms???
I have two questions. First I would ask whether it is zn " americanism" or something else in sentence structures with the omission of "that" snd suchlike in sentences like " I know (that) you were there yesterday". In nearly all American novels (that) I have read the word "that" is omitted.
The second question is to clarify the recent interchange between "was" and "were". From my long ago recollection was was used for singular and were for plural. Recent usage appears to have reversed that usage.
Lastly, British TV football commentators use phrases like " ...while I was sat here..". Why not use the gerund form?
Thkx
The second question is to clarify the recent interchange between "was" and "were". From my long ago recollection was was used for singular and were for plural. Recent usage appears to have reversed that usage.
Lastly, British TV football commentators use phrases like " ...while I was sat here..". Why not use the gerund form?
Thkx
Top answer
Anonymous In nearly all American novels (that) I have read the word "that" is omitted. It's frequently omitted in BrE as well. Anonymous Recent usage appears to have reversed that usage.
- Anonymous In nearly all American novels (that) I have read the word "that" is omitted.
- It's frequently omitted in BrE as well.
- Anonymous Recent usage appears to have reversed that usage.
- What makes you think that?
- There has been no reversal at all.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousIn nearly all American novels (that) I have read the word "that" is omitted.It's frequently omitted in BrE as well.
Anonymous Recent usage appears to have reversed that usage.What makes you think that? There has been no reversal at all.
Anonymous..while I was sat here..". Why not use the ger
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Hi
Your last point there, about 'sat', is interesting
It is informal, but I think it is also historical and survives in UK regional dialects (Yorkshire, I believe)
Because it is like the passive, it can be used to imply that the speaker is not happy with the situation - as if they are the object of the verb:
- The man in front of me in the queue was taking ages,
Your last point there, about 'sat', is interesting
It is informal, but I think it is also historical and survives in UK regional dialects (Yorkshire, I believe)
Because it is like the passive, it can be used to imply that the speaker is not happy with the situation - as if they are the object of the verb:
- The man in front of me in the queue was taking ages,
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