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Dokterjokkebrok Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Them apples
Hi,
Can anyone tell me more on the origin of 'How do you like them apples?', as seen in the movie Good Will Hunting?
Particularly I am interested in knowing whether the use of 'them' instead of 'those' is sometimes extended to other contexts in which it defies grammatical acceptability.
Thank you for your help!
DJB
Can anyone tell me more on the origin of 'How do you like them apples?', as seen in the movie Good Will Hunting?
Particularly I am interested in knowing whether the use of 'them' instead of 'those' is sometimes extended to other contexts in which it defies grammatical acceptability.
Thank you for your help!
Top answer
dokterjokkebrok defies grammatical acceptability It's supposed to be a jocular use of bad grammar. I can't think of other examples just now, but I'm sure they exist. No idea of the origin.
- dokterjokkebrok defies grammatical acceptability It's supposed to be a jocular use of bad grammar.
- I can't think of other examples just now, but I'm sure they exist.
- No idea of the origin.
- (You probably put a hyphen before and after your initials.
- ) CJ
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2 Answers
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dokterjokkebrokdefies grammatical acceptabilityIt's supposed to be a jocular use of bad grammar. I can't think of other examples just now, but I'm sure they exist.
No idea of the origin.
(You probably put a hyphen before and after your initials. That's why they're struck out.)
CJ
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This use of "them" for "those" is not correct standard English, but it is used as a non-standard form, e.g. in some dialects or in uneducated speech. As far as I can think, it can be substituted (with those caveats) anywhere that "those" is used as a modifier.
"Fetch me them books."
"I don't get on with them folks."
etc.
"Fetch me them books."
"I don't get on with them folks."
etc.
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