arcane1
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Tue Dec-14-04 01:58 PM
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what do you call that form of English that doesn't use "to be"? |
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zero-sum English or something like that? :shrug:
It's on the tip of my brain, but I just can't get to it!
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imenja
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:01 PM
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1. can you explain that a bit more? |
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What precisely you mean, or give an example?
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arcane1
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:03 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
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and I don't recall the correct grammar... but for example you wouldn't say "I am tired", you would say it in such a way as to eliminate the redundant "am"
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imenja
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:11 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
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Edited on Tue Dec-14-04 02:17 PM by imenja
I know some of that is fairly common in black English (what some call Ebonics). They also use "be"--like "I be Christian"--to express a continual or repetitive state of being, similar but not identical to the difference between "ser" and "estar" in Spanish. That's not what you mean though, so basically I'm being useless here.
Edit: If I even once wrote a post without a typo it would be a miracle.
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Magrittes Pipe
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:03 PM
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benddem
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:06 PM
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"this whole subject makes me tired" ??? Didn't know it had a name.
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demnan
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:27 PM
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6. the opposite of passive English? |
arcane1
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:33 PM
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7. but there is supposedly an actual name for it... |
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driving me crazy trying to remember :crazy:
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cpamomfromtexas
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:40 PM
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8. It's called Active voice |
TrogL
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:41 PM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Tue Dec-14-04 02:45 PM by TrogL
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arcane1
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #9 |
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English Prime: To Exist or Not to Exist
English Prime means English without the verb "to be" or any of its forms. These include: is, are, were, am, be, been. You may, in using this language, use forms of the verb "to be" as helping verbs when the main verb describes action such as "been running" but not as a state of being verb such as "been sick."
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MrModerate
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:49 PM
Response to Reply #11 |
13. Yeah, but why would you want to? n/t |
TrogL
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:51 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
14. It firms up your thinking, enriches your language |
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I try to use it where I can.
I am happy -> I feel cheerful. I am very said -> My sadness overwhelms me.
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MrModerate
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Tue Dec-14-04 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
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Hate that flabby language.
But then you should see my abs. Even worse.
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arcane1
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Tue Dec-14-04 03:07 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
15. don't necessarily want to, was just talking about it a little while ago |
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to a person from Bosnia who was complaining about the whole "is, am, are, etc" thing
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BurtWorm
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #9 |
12. I call your attention to the correct answer! |
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Notice that I resisted saying, "Here ** the correct answer." I have pride in myself.
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Midlodemocrat
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Tue Dec-14-04 02:43 PM
Response to Original message |
10. Ebonics. I think that is what you are looking for. n/t |
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