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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Are you free on Saturday?

Here's a conversation between lovers:
A: Are you free on Saturday?
B: Honey, I am on any day you want me to be.

Does B's response sound natural?

Also, I'd like to know if "on" can be left out either from A's or B's line.

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

The exchange is grammatical, but the tone of B's response is questionable (with or without "on"), like B is annoyed at being asked and is answering sarcastically. Also, beginning a sentence with "Honey" in a situation like this sounds antagonistic.

— Anonymous

  • The exchange is grammatical, but the tone of B's response is questionable (with or without "on"), like B is annoyed at being asked and is answering sarcastically.
  • Also, beginning a sentence with "Honey" in a situation like this sounds antagonistic.
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12 Answers
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The exchange is grammatical, but the tone of B's response is questionable (with or without "on"), like B is annoyed at being asked and is answering sarcastically. Also, beginning a sentence with "Honey" in a situation like this sounds antagonistic.
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Hmmm, I see neither sarcasm nor antagonism there.

In N. America, 'Honey' is a common term of romantic endearment. Emotion: love
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Thanks folks.
Since the answers are sort of opposite, however, I'm not sure whose answer I should accept as a correct one.

Is there an third person who could stand behind either of the above answers?
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Anonymous, I'm not sure whose answer I should accept as a correct one.
Hmm. Difficult choice.

Clive is a teacher and a moderator of this forum. He has posted nearly 77,000 responses over twelve years. The other has posted their response anonymously. Do you really need me to confirm that CJ is right?

ps. The 'on' is not essential in BrE.
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fivejedjon Anonymous, I'm not sure whose answer I should accept as a correct one.Hmm. Difficult choice.CJ is a teacher and a moderator of this forum. He has posted nearly 68,000 responses over twelve years. The other has posted their response anonymously. Do yo really need me to confirm that CJ is right? ps. The 'on' is not essential in BrE.
Who's CJ? You mean
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AnonymousB: Honey, I am on any day you want me to be.
It seems that it should be "I am free on any day you want me to be."

I agree with Clive -- I don't see any sarcasm or antagonism. And I'm okay with omitting "on" in both places.
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AnonymousWho's CJ? You mean Clive?
Sorry. I have now corrected my slip.
Anonymousit seems that you don't stand behind the anonymous answer.
I don't.
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fivejedjonSorry. I have now corrected my slip.
Glad that this wasn't something that I did not understand.
fivejedjonI don't.
Thank you for the confirmation. Appreciate it.
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khoffIt seems that it should be "I am free on any day you want me to be."
Might I ask why it should?
I mean, in the given dialogue, "A" already mentioned the word "free". So I would guess the same word could be omitted in B's response. And you say this is not so. How come?
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AnonymousMight I ask why it should?
It is partly because in this conversation, omitting 'free' leaves only 'I am', which is a very vague statement. In other dialogs, omission of the adjective is more likely:

A: Will you join me on Saturday?
B: Honey, I will on any day you want me to.
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