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Tallulah Tam Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
Learnt v learned?
Dear Mr. Micawber, This is a question about the word "learnt" which you have used, and only seems to be used in Britain. I live in the US and the word used over here is "learned," Is "learnt" a corruption? The spoken word which has somehow (and perhaps lazily) become accepted in written form?
Top answer
Hi Tallulah, welcome to the Forums, I'll try to answer your question according to my own opinion, I'm sure MM will give you a better answer later. Learnt belongs to irregular verbs in British English, though I'd like to add that they were not considered irregular maybe 4 hundred years ago. " is lost now, no longer exist.
- Hi Tallulah, welcome to the Forums, I'll try to answer your question according to my own opinion, I'm sure MM will give you a better answer later.
- Learnt belongs to irregular verbs in British English, though I'd like to add that they were not considered irregular maybe 4 hundred years ago.
- " is lost now, no longer exist.
- And this made them irregular.
- Languages usually tend to get rid of the irregulalarities at some point of time (however, at that time there always be new irregularities to be born), that's why we have the alternative "learned" in American English.
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53 Answers
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Hi Tallulah, welcome to the Forums,
I'll try to answer your question according to my own opinion, I'm sure MM will give you a better answer later.
Learnt belongs to irregular verbs in British English, though I'd like to add that they were not considered irregular maybe 4 hundred years ago. Just the rule that existed at that time that let the language to have "learnt, spent, swept
I'll try to answer your question according to my own opinion, I'm sure MM will give you a better answer later.
Learnt belongs to irregular verbs in British English, though I'd like to add that they were not considered irregular maybe 4 hundred years ago. Just the rule that existed at that time that let the language to have "learnt, spent, swept
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Thank you for your prompt and interesting reply Language Lover. I hasten to add here before there is any misunderstanding, that I am English born and bred. I have lived in the States for almost 20yrs. so now I feel as though I belong nowhere in particular! (Peculiar feeling) My questions will probably be related to the differences in our languages. The Americans here will correct me I am sure whe
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I just like to hear myself talk, (I guess). So, do you have a British accent with a hint of Southern? Sorry I assumed you were American from your first post. I think you will bring an intersting perspective to these discussions.
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Hi Tallulah,
I don't know what to say, your knowlege is far beyond my reach ...
I guess you're questioning why a single language goes through seperate paths of developing? And which version is more acceptable, the one that sticks to a known rule, or the one that causes a mess in the system of a language? Is this what you're trying to say?
And yup, you're quite right abo
I don't know what to say, your knowlege is far beyond my reach ...
I guess you're questioning why a single language goes through seperate paths of developing? And which version is more acceptable, the one that sticks to a known rule, or the one that causes a mess in the system of a language? Is this what you're trying to say?
And yup, you're quite right abo
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Khoff, I have a southern English accent, not a Deep South accent, not even a hint, since I am married to an Englishman. Neither of us has, (taken a chance on that one, has or have?) an American accent, although we have both learned (learnt) to say, "Y'all come back'n see us now" and "chickin n dumplins" with a passable Southern drawl.
Where are you from? (A question
Where are you from? (A question
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I'm from Denver, Colorado. I lived in Boston for about 20 years (without acquiring any Boston accent) and then moved back to Denver. I don't think I have any particular regional accent - I do have a tendency to put hard g's (sometimes almost k's) at the end of "-ing" words, but that's not a Denver thing, it's just a relic of my Eastern European ancestors.
As far as seeing earlier posts
As far as seeing earlier posts
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Hello Tallulah Tam,
welcome to the EnglishForward. I'm not sure if this is what you were asking about: to find any of the threads you participated in, you need to click "My forums" phrase.
Oh, I forgot:
Which one do you feel is better:
a) I burnt my finger on the stove.
b) I burned my finger on the stove.
It feel that a) is momentary and b) al
welcome to the EnglishForward. I'm not sure if this is what you were asking about: to find any of the threads you participated in, you need to click "My forums" phrase.
Oh, I forgot:
Which one do you feel is better:
a) I burnt my finger on the stove.
b) I burned my finger on the stove.
It feel that a) is momentary and b) al
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Hello Tallulah
I'd be disinclined to think of the T forms as corrupt. There are many examples in Spenser, Marlowe, and Milton, which suggests that both the pronunciation and spelling are well established in British English.
In fact, the older writers seem to have been much more profligate with their Ts: opening Marlowe at random, I find <banisht>; likewise, <seduc
I'd be disinclined to think of the T forms as corrupt. There are many examples in Spenser, Marlowe, and Milton, which suggests that both the pronunciation and spelling are well established in British English.
In fact, the older writers seem to have been much more profligate with their Ts: opening Marlowe at random, I find <banisht>; likewise, <seduc
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Cairna) I burnt my finger on the stove.I'm with you on this one, Cairn.
b) I burned my finger on the stove.
It feel that a) is momentary and b) almost hurts. (it might be personal, though)
"The candle burned all night."
"I've burnt the cakes again."
MrP
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I am really enjoying this......I am actually getting my opinion asked! 
Thank you all for your replies.
Perhaps
Thank you all for your replies.
Perhaps
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