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Now I want a grammar thread

(122 Posts)
thatbags Fri 12-Sept-14 08:20:41

Not because of pedantry. My recent use of a phrase in the subjunctive mood, which I think was widely misunderstood, is the cause of this plea.

Some people argue that we don't use the subjunctive mood in English. I argue that we do; at least I do. I think the problem is that it is difficult to recognise, as my experience yesterday showed.

What do other people think about English language subjunctive clauses? Do you use them? Do people understand you when you do?

smile

rosequartz Sat 13-Sept-14 10:41:14

lily I remember seeing that on our local news when they were doing the mtDNA testing. It was fascinating.

thatbags Sat 13-Sept-14 10:31:39

Interesting story, lily smile. DD2 is following up links to Picts in her Scottish ancestors. Fascinating stuff but, as you say, we're all mongrels and that's good for the species—hybrid vigour.

rosequartz Sat 13-Sept-14 10:25:23

[[ www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/news/the-millionyearold-family-human-footprints-found-in-britain-are-oldest-ever-seen-outside-of-africa-9114151.htm]]l

I wonder if these people used the subjunctive or were plain speakers?

Lilygran Sat 13-Sept-14 10:16:57

More non sequiturs. Was anyone else fascinated by this story? Some people still living near Cheddar Gorge turn out to be direct descendants of people who lived there 9000 years ago! But really I think all the talk about Celts and Anglo-Saxons and Danes and Vikings is irrelevant in terms of who we think we are now. All mongrels. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheddar_Man

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 13-Sept-14 09:37:08

here you are Durhamjen This will tell you all about it. smile

hmm

durhamjen Fri 12-Sept-14 23:27:45

Aren't we Celts, if we're the original ones? The Angles and Saxe are from Europe, just like the Vikings.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Sept-14 23:01:39

I don't suppose they look a lot like the people in Bags boat.

Any more than we look like anglo-saxons. (the original ones)

durhamjen Fri 12-Sept-14 22:01:19

My grandchildren and their mother are very nice people. They are descended from Danish Vikings.

rosequartz Fri 12-Sept-14 21:22:45

They had a very bad press, jings

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Sept-14 21:06:21

But the Vikings weren't very nice people.

durhamjen Fri 12-Sept-14 20:59:23

Thanks, bags. Just printed it off to show my Viking grandchildren.

thatbags Fri 12-Sept-14 20:45:38

And here's a nice non-sequitur with a Viking long ship in it.

thatbags Fri 12-Sept-14 20:30:59

There is no villain. Nor was there any offence.

Elegran Fri 12-Sept-14 19:22:47

What a lot of opportunities for misunderstandings and double entendres these threads provide.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Sept-14 19:00:49

grin Yes, I thought it might have been a gooseberry type of fool.

petallus Fri 12-Sept-14 18:56:14

Someone thought Aka called someone a tart old fool when she actually was talking about a nice tart fool (I assume a pudding).

That is so amusing.

Elegran Fri 12-Sept-14 18:37:34

You are on the right lines, Nellliemoser Something like that ought to beat the opposition. I don't think I shall post anything on that thread, it has all been said.

Grannylin Fri 12-Sept-14 18:35:48

Huh!Would that he were!

Nelliemoser Fri 12-Sept-14 18:33:10

I think I will just wander off and keep posting on the Great Gransnet competition thread.
"I thing being a grand mother is grand because my Grandson is cuter than your grandchildren" d'you think that might win?

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 12-Sept-14 18:33:04

Fuck me! I'm lost now. confused

Ana Fri 12-Sept-14 18:31:23

Do get your quotes right if you're going to wade in, GrannyTwice.

The exact words were "Oh yes, you can't beat a nice, tart fool..."

Can't think where you got the 'old' from...

Grannylin Fri 12-Sept-14 18:30:26

Full moon smile

Penstemmon Fri 12-Sept-14 18:29:06

pot/kettle?

baubles Fri 12-Sept-14 18:26:41

Or even mountain, molehill.

baubles Fri 12-Sept-14 18:26:11

Storm, teacup, comes to mind.