Cato's Grammar Grumble

[Karl Henning]

It is not such an uncommon mistake.  It reminds of another thing I have heard more than I wish, "I borrowed him $100 and he never paid me back."

Oh well, it's just rock 'n' roll.

That reminds me . . . .

Loan as a verb?  Has it become . . . acceptable?

[kishnevi]

Not precisely ungrammatical, but the name chosen for this gift shop must induce some groans.
http://www.lexingtonhistory.org/shop.html

[Cato]

That reminds me . . . .

Loan as a verb?  Has it become . . . acceptable?

My Random House dictionary from the 1970's says yes.  Odd to my ears does it sound.

Not precisely ungrammatical, but the name chosen for this gift shop must induce some groans.
http://www.lexingtonhistory.org/shop.html

0:)

Well, some jokes are just too tempting!   

[Karl Henning]

Woof

[Ten thumbs]

'The likes of' always amuses me. It suggests that those referred to are not the real people.

[DavidRoss]

That reminds me . . . .

Loan as a verb?  Has it become . . . acceptable?

Never.

Question 2: Have objective pronouns completely disappeared from common speech?

[Cato]

Never.

Question 2: Have objective pronouns completely disappeared from common speech?

Why no!  Just yesterday one of my not unintelligent 8th Grade boys came up to me and said:

"Can me 'n' him take down the flag?"   

To which I responded: "Where are Mr. Mi and Mr. Hymn?  They sound rather musical?"

The boy's bewildered face was a sight to behold.   

So for some people "me" and "him" and "her" and "them" are Subject Pronouns!

And "I" is now an Object Pronoun, and it is becoming really annoying!  It seems that whenever people are using a double object which includes themselves, they instantly become dullards.

"I just bought some Chinese food for my and wife and I."   

I tell my students: Would you ever say "I just bought some Chinese food for I?"

[kishnevi]

!

And "I" is now an Object Pronoun, and it is becoming really annoying!  It seems that whenever people are using a double object which includes themselves, they instantly become dullards.

"I just bought some Chinese food for my and wife and I."   

I tell my students: Would you ever say "I just bought some Chinese food for I?"

That's not a new trend;   people (not just juveniles) were confused about the proper use of me vs. myself when I was a kid.   I think the basic problem is the Decline and Fall of the Reflexive.

For a lot of people,  "myself" sounds wrong in the ear, but they know that "me" is somehow not correct, so they put in the only other first person pronoun they know

[Cato]

That's not a new trend;   people (not just juveniles) were confused about the proper use of me vs. myself when I was a kid.   I think the basic problem is the Decline and Fall of the Reflexive.

True!  It just seems more widespread these days!

Me vs. Myself

"She bought me some socks."  vs.  "I bought myself some socks."

Then there is the Southern version: "I got me some socks!"   

[DaveF]

Loan as a verb?  Has it become . . . acceptable?[/font]

Recently received a very comprehensive bundle of tourist information in the post from the Commonwealth of Virginia, ordered for our summer trip (c'mon Maryland and Delaware, where's the stuff I requested from you?).  Apparently there's a great deal to do in Virginia - hiking, riding, driving, dining, sightseeing, antiquing.  Now there's a verb.

I hear on the radio news that British expressions are becoming popular in the US - a whole new grumble area, perhaps?

[Cato]

Recently received a very comprehensive bundle of tourist information in the post from the Commonwealth of Virginia, ordered for our summer trip (c'mon Maryland and Delaware, where's the stuff I requested from you?).  Apparently there's a great deal to do in Virginia - hiking, riding, driving, dining, sightseeing, antiquing.  Now there's a verb.

I hear on the radio news that British expressions are becoming popular in the US - a whole new grumble area, perhaps?

I assume that means visiting antique shops?  Here in Ohio it would mean that one is deliberately refinishing a piece of furniture to look antique!

And speaking of British influences, benign or malign...

I have been hearing certain middle consonants either disappear or almost disappear among the younger generation, making them sound like a bunch of Cockneys      : e.g.  among my own students I too often hear monstrosities like "Bri'ain" for "Britain," "La'in" for "Latin,"  and "Mi'll" for "Middle."   

[Opus106]

I think the regulars will enjoy this clip. 

http://www.youtube.com/v/1IvWoQplqXQ

[Cato]

I think the regulars will enjoy this clip. 

http://www.youtube.com/v/1IvWoQplqXQ

The Red Mist of Bad-Grammar Rage!

"It's 'whomever'!"   

Many thanks!

[North Star]

Brilliant, Nav!

[Gurn Blanston]

I think the regulars will enjoy this clip. 

http://www.youtube.com/v/1IvWoQplqXQ

Ah, I feel better already!   

[Cato]

From an essay by Daniel Henninger in today's (May 23, 2013) Wall Street Journal:

Both these new laws are—in an awful but apt word—un-implementable.

I guess "infeasible" was not specific enough.

The laws referred to are c. 2,000 + page monstrosities, which Congressmen admit they have not read ("We have to pass the law, so we can find out what's in it" - yes, a former Speaker of the House actually said that).

[Karl Henning]

Right! Implement first, understand later . . . .

[Cato]

Right! Implement first, understand later . . . .

The word actually is Latin for "to fill in."  The "ple-" root ("full") is the same as in "plenty."

Maybe we can find (or even coin) a neater word than "unimplementable"  .

[Karl Henning]

Explement!

[Cato]

Explement!

All kinds of jokes are possible from that idea!   0:)

Just came across the word "Twitterati" !