I’m in favor of letting languages evolve; after all, I’m so happy English lost its grammatical gender so we don’t have to remember if a pencil is masculine and a pen feminine or the other way around. And nobody misses “thou” and “thee” except maybe the Quakers and Shakespearean actors.
But some grammatical changes are not for the better, and this cartoon character’s mistake is becoming too common. Many times in recent years I have heard intelligent, educated people say things like “he shouldn’t have CAME”, or “she might have DID it”.
English is admirably simple compared to many other languages (like the six German words for “the”), but I don’t see any advantage to wiping out the distinction between the past tense and the past participle.
hank197857 over 14 years ago
you think?
Superfrog over 14 years ago
and be like everyone else?
Nighthawks Premium Member over 14 years ago
just turn it on its side
Digital Frog over 14 years ago
I would say his hindsight is very widescreen…
William A Short Premium Member over 14 years ago
“should have WENT”?????????????????????????
bald over 14 years ago
WilliamShort said, 24 minutes ago
“should have WENT”?????????????????????????
that’s what i thought, but then he may never have gotten past 2nd grade.
pschearer Premium Member over 14 years ago
I’m in favor of letting languages evolve; after all, I’m so happy English lost its grammatical gender so we don’t have to remember if a pencil is masculine and a pen feminine or the other way around. And nobody misses “thou” and “thee” except maybe the Quakers and Shakespearean actors.
But some grammatical changes are not for the better, and this cartoon character’s mistake is becoming too common. Many times in recent years I have heard intelligent, educated people say things like “he shouldn’t have CAME”, or “she might have DID it”.
English is admirably simple compared to many other languages (like the six German words for “the”), but I don’t see any advantage to wiping out the distinction between the past tense and the past participle.
ottod Premium Member over 14 years ago
Hey! What’s past is past. Move on!