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Gerry Meng Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Sentence Explanation

Hi everyone

I have confronted a sentence I do not quite understand.

Can someone please help me out?

The sentence

"he would not of been much of a man if he had not shot them fellows"

The confusing part has been underlined,

What is the style of "would not of been" Is that a style?

Thanks

Gerry
  

Top answer

Gerry Meng The sentence "he would not of been much of a man if he had not shot them fellows" This is an imitation of low-register speech, so it purposely includes some mistakes. of is used instead of have , because both are pronounced the same in this context, and them is used instead of those . The correct form of this sentence is He would not have been much of a man if he had not shot those fellows.

— CalifJim

  • Gerry Meng The sentence "he would not of been much of a man if he had not shot them fellows" This is an imitation of low-register speech, so it purposely includes some mistakes.
  • of is used instead of have , because both are pronounced the same in this context, and them is used instead of those .
  • The correct form of this sentence is He would not have been much of a man if he had not shot those fellows.
  • Do you have any further questions about the corrected form?
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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Gerry MengThe sentence
"he would not of been much of a man if he had not shot them fellows"
This is an imitation of low-register speech, so it purposely includes some mistakes. of is used instead of have, because both are pronounced the same in this context, and them is used instead of those. The correct form of this sentence
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Thanks CJ

but one question,

you mention they have the same pronunciation, Is that the words "ve" and " of" ?

Gerry
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Gerry MengIs that the words "ve" and " of" ?
Yes. The contracted form " 've", and "of" sound the same. And "have" in that sentence would also be pronounced the same in faster speech.

I would've done that is therefore sometimes incorrectly written as I would of done that.

CJ
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