Just for the word geeks…. I believe if this were to be grammatically correct, it would read: “Wilt thou not say uncle?” “Thee” is accusitive case (object of the sentence). Conjugating “will” with the second person singular get “wilt.” You use the infinitive form of “say” as the second part of the compound verb (will say). Tere, now wasn’t that fun?
Well, geeky or not…I was just coming in here to correct it too….
I don’t remember all the names of the cases and such…but the rules are simple…
You will, thou wilt ..And if you simply MUST get in that “eth” sort of thing cos you just don’t feel properly Elizabethan without it, be aware that “Thou” requires the “est” verb ending.
You saythou sayest (or sayst)he sayeth (or saith.)
So you could phrase it “Sayest thou now not uncle?”
Yup. Wilt thou not… and I know that it is the funnies, but I use plain talk (thee & thy) all the time, and to have it messed up does bother. (Although, nowadays we would say “Won’t thee cry Uncle”. Times change and so does language.
Pharmakeus Ubik almost 10 years ago
Look, he beckons!you to great sale prices at the White Whale Thrift Emporium.
cdward almost 10 years ago
Just for the word geeks…. I believe if this were to be grammatically correct, it would read: “Wilt thou not say uncle?” “Thee” is accusitive case (object of the sentence). Conjugating “will” with the second person singular get “wilt.” You use the infinitive form of “say” as the second part of the compound verb (will say). Tere, now wasn’t that fun?
SusanSunshine Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Cdward…
Well, geeky or not…I was just coming in here to correct it too….
I don’t remember all the names of the cases and such…but the rules are simple…
You will, thou wilt ..And if you simply MUST get in that “eth” sort of thing cos you just don’t feel properly Elizabethan without it, be aware that “Thou” requires the “est” verb ending.
You saythou sayest (or sayst)he sayeth (or saith.)
So you could phrase it “Sayest thou now not uncle?”
J Short almost 10 years ago
Ahab: I’ve got you right where I want you.
nataliekaylaben almost 10 years ago
I agree with susan and cdward that the grammar is incorrect. But jeez, guys, it’s the funny papers! Let’s not get all serious…
ladykat almost 10 years ago
OK, Ahab, now that you’ve got him, what are you going to do with him?
madmarge almost 10 years ago
Whale: "You’re no relative of mine!
CamiSu Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Yup. Wilt thou not… and I know that it is the funnies, but I use plain talk (thee & thy) all the time, and to have it messed up does bother. (Although, nowadays we would say “Won’t thee cry Uncle”. Times change and so does language.
CamiSu Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Probably not, but some of us plain folk actually use second person singular all the time. Comes from having a Quaker background.