Grammar Discussions

[medhead]

And another one:

That's a thing in cairns. All threats involving toads should be avoided. You have been warned

 

[Warks]

Speaking of "doing good" I remember this one from 30 Rock a while back (ignore the first 10 seconds of gibberish).

[video=youtube;LoE8ZgzaX7A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoE8ZgzaX7A[/video]

 

[Captain Halliday]

The use of past tense by checkout operators is becoming frequent. Specifically, "did you want a bag?"

On a bad day, I have been known to respond with, "When?" or "Yes, and I still do please."

It's similar to the past tense often used in circumstances when you name or other details are required. "What was your name?"

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The use of past tense by checkout operators is becoming frequent. Specifically, "did you want a bag?"

On a bad day, I have been known to respond with, "When?" or "Yes, and I still do please."

Maybe it's their polite way of indicating they weren't really listening to you earlier where you might have said whether you wanted a bag or not

 

[get me outta here]

Yeah, nah bro.

'How'd you go on the test yesterday Maryjane?'

'I was stoned, but I think I did alright bro'

(Maryjane seems to be from Nieuw Zulland for the purposes of this example)

 

[Captain Halliday]

Maybe it's their polite way of indicating they weren't really listening to you earlier where you might have said whether you wanted a bag or not

The key words here are weren't really listening. I'm just not sure if they weren't really listening at the checkout, or in school.

 

[get me outta here]

Yes, the "What was your name?", question has bugged me for quite a while.

And my answer is , "My name IS ..... "

The use of past tense by checkout operators is becoming frequent. Specifically, "did you want a bag?"

On a bad day, I have been known to respond with, "When?" or "Yes, and I still do please."

It's similar to the past tense often used in circumstances when you name or other details are required. "What was your name?"

 

[tuapekastar]

Sorry if it has been mentioned here before, but I often wonder at the use of the word 'folks' (as in "hi there folks") as opposed to what I would consider the correct "hi there folk". I may be wrong.

 

[Deleted member]

I suspect "common usage" may have forced an acceptance. A bit like
Cow's vs Kine. Cannon's V Cannon. Etc.

 

[Major]

I had an interesting discussion with a mate recently (over a few beers) regarding the correct use of spelt and spelled. I maintained that although spelt was a type of wheat it could also be used to indicate the past tense of spell, as in "that word was spelt incorrectly"
He maintained that the correct word was spelled.

It turns out we are both right.

 

[Warks]

I had an interesting discussion with a mate recently (over a few beers) regarding the correct use of spelt and spelled. I maintained that although spelt was a type of wheat it could also be used to indicate the past tense of spell, as in "that word was spelt incorrectly"
He maintained that the correct word was spelled.

It turns out we are both right.

Spelt = spelled
Learnt = learned
Burnt = burned

(or do they?)

Americans don't tend to use the 't' past tense at all from what I know. Although the biblical "burnt offering" doesn't quite sound right as "burned offering".

 

[medhead]

Wouldn't it be an adjective in "burnt offering"?

 

[andye]

I suspect "common usage" may have forced an acceptance. A bit like
Cow's vs Kine. Cannon's V Cannon. Etc.

Not uncommon to hear cannon as a plural in the UK where my feeling is that it is the correct form. Likely to be different in Aus and US

 

[anat0l]

The use of past tense by checkout operators is becoming frequent. Specifically, "did you want a bag?"

On a bad day, I have been known to respond with, "When?" or "Yes, and I still do please."

The only thing I could guess by using the past tense - apart from bad habit - is that you may have wanted a bag before they started scanning, but of course they can't read your mind. So they ask in the past tense as you may have wanted one (and maybe you still do).

Alright, that's a rather skewed interpretation, but....

Of course, the correct question is, "Would you like a bag?"

It's similar to the past tense often used in circumstances when you name or other details are required. "What was your name?"

I've heard this one a few times. I think the idea was meant to be either (a) they have asked or heard your name before, e.g. at the start of the conversation, and now are asking for it again; or, (b) it would seem this is a disposition of humility as if they needed your name before but have not bothered until now to ask (for) it.

Again, a skewed interpretation

 

[TheEmu]

I had an interesting discussion with a mate recently (over a few beers) regarding the correct use of spelt and spelled. I maintained that although spelt was a type of wheat it could also be used to indicate the past tense of spell, as in "that word was spelt incorrectly"
He maintained that the correct word was spelled.

It turns out we are both right.

Does this prove that most grammatical problems can be solved with a few beers? I would like to think so.

 

[anat0l]

This must have been posted before, but it surfaces every so often: discrete and discreet. That's not counting the spelling mistakes of either.

 

[andye]

Does this prove that most grammatical problems can be solved with a few beers? I would like to think so.

You certainly couldn't solve them with less beers

 

[Deleted member]

You certainly couldn't solve them with less beers

Or fewer beers?

 

[whatmeworry]

Danny Green giving Anthony Mundine some spelling lessons.

DANNY Green has taught long-time rival Anthony Mundine a lesson in literacy and respect on social media, after the former rugby league star turned super middleweight champion took to Facebook to slam Green’s fans about a possible rematch.

Anthony Mundine vs Danny Green rematch: Green humbles The Man

 

[Julesmac]

Sign in a Chapel Street club spotted this morning. 'Bux Parties'. Could have been worse, I suppose - 'Bux Party's