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Milky Posted 20 years ago
Linguistics Studies
Who's right?
Many American English speakers would say that "might could" is incorrect usage. I, a British English speaker, would say that the American English use of "Did you see the new Clooney film" (when it's still in theatres) is incorrect. So, which of us is right? Are both "might could" and that AE use of the past simple, where BE speakers would use the present perfect, incorrect?
Top answer
It makes no sense to talk about correct and incorrect when comparing dialects.
- It makes no sense to talk about correct and incorrect when comparing dialects.
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17 Answers
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It makes no sense to talk about correct and incorrect when comparing dialects.
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MilkyI, a British English speaker, would say that the American English use of "Did you see the new Clooney film" (when it's still in theatres) is incorrect.
"Where did you go last night?"
"To the Odeon in Leicester Square."
"Did you see the new James Bond film?"
"No, we saw Children of Men."
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<"Where did you go last night?"
"To the Odeon in Leicester Square."
"Did you see the new James Bond film?"
"No, we saw Children of Men."
Sounds pretty normal BrE to me>
MR P should try replacing that past simple question with one using the present perfect. Then, he might catch up with what is being discussed here.
"To the Odeon in Leicester Square."
"Did you see the new James Bond film?"
"No, we saw Children of Men."
Sounds pretty normal BrE to me>
MR P should try replacing that past simple question with one using the present perfect. Then, he might catch up with what is being discussed here.
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Milky<"Where did you go last night?" "To the Odeon in Leicester Square." "Did you see the new James Bond film?" "No, we saw Children of Men." Sounds pretty normal BrE to me> MR P should try replacing that past simple question with one using the present simple. Then, he might catch up with what is being discussed here.You mean:
"See you t
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Milky<"Where did you go last night?" "To the Odeon in Leicester Square." "Did you see the new James Bond film?" "No, we saw Children of Men." Sounds pretty normal BrE to me> MR P should try replacing that past simple question with one using the present perfect. Then, he might catch up with what is being discussed here.Ah!
Now you've changed you
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He's doing it again. Garden pathing? I wonder why he's doing that? Still upset, is he?
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Milky is clearly an academic since:
1. He asks interesting questions, but never answers them, except that...
2. He answers questions with another question.
3. You think you are getting somewhere, but he moves the goalposts.
4. He is always quoting other people.
5. He argues with people who want to agree with him.
6. In short, he treats us all l
1. He asks interesting questions, but never answers them, except that...
2. He answers questions with another question.
3. You think you are getting somewhere, but he moves the goalposts.
4. He is always quoting other people.
5. He argues with people who want to agree with him.
6. In short, he treats us all l
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Now, Forbes, help me find your answer to the thread question, will ya?
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MilkyMany American English speakers would say that "might could" is incorrect usage. I, a British English speaker, would say that the American English use of "Did you see the new Clooney film" (when it's still in theatres) is incorrect. So, which of us is right? Are both "might could" and that AE use of the past simple, where BE speakers would use the present perfect, inc
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