grammar question regarding the use of "at" and "in" - Page 3

seaweed · #21 01-05-2007, 01:36 AM

Post deleted by seaweed

Brainwalter · #22 01-05-2007, 01:38 AM

Oh they're both at school right now? Sorry I didn't realize.

Wait you're an idiot.

seaweed · #23 01-05-2007, 02:07 AM

Brainwalter · #24 01-05-2007, 02:12 AM

Huh? I made a nit joke, you took it seriously. What are you trying to prove here?

BTW threaded mode sucks, use flat, you'll thank me later.

seaweed · #25 01-05-2007, 02:21 AM

i do use flat mode. but, i couldn't figure out how to link directly to your quote from that other thread in flat mode. it's probably because i'm an idiot. [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

seaweed · #26 01-05-2007, 02:31 AM

oh, i'm trying to prove that i am an idiot. you were totally right. the subjunctive is used in hypothetical situations. duh. i used to be smart, really. (96th percentile on the LSAT, editor on law review--i was the go-to grammar girl. ridiculous considering my above posts, i know). i kind of stopped using my brain for serious things awhile back. clearly, a bad move on my part. 'cause i didn't use it & now i've lost it. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Brainwalter · #27 01-05-2007, 02:48 AM

Heh, only reason I got into it with you is you came in really authritatively but wrong. Misplaced nittiness is the funniest kind. We could all stand to lighten up a little I guess, [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

tyler_cracker · #28 01-05-2007, 04:00 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Instead of saying "I have," you can usually just say "I've." Example:

"I have been drinking." = "I've been drinking."

But how come it sounds so weird to replace "I have" with "I've" in the following conversation, and is it still acceptable to do so?

Jim: You don't look so good. How many shots did you have?
Susan: I have to drive home...

Jim: No, I don't think that's such a good idea.
Susan: I've to drive home!

[/ QUOTE ]

"have" in the first case is a helping verb that is part of the predicate "have been drinking". The helping verb "have" is used in English to mark the perfect tense ("i have travelled", "she has flown").

Helping verbs often get rolled up into contractions, such as "I will go" -> "I'll go"; "I am leaving" -> "I'm leaving".

"have" in the second case is part of the expression "have to". In this specific case, the expression "have to" usually plugs into another verb ("i have to go"; "she has to dance"). Other meanings of "have", however, don't have this superficial similarity to case 1. For example, "I have 2 cars".

When "have" is used like this, it cannot be rolled up into a contraction: "I've to go"; "I've 2 cars".

grando · #29 01-05-2007, 04:09 AM

why the hell is english so popular - it's such a stupid language

bisonbison · #30 01-05-2007, 04:11 AM

The "it is/it's" thing feels wrong cause the "its" option is too ambiguous. Are you gonna say "Yes it's." or are you gonna say "Yes, it's awesome." or "Yes, it's a big problem that I'm incapable of love."?

The mind resents having to hiccup over this, it sounds wrong. If I said "that's sad", would you say "Yes that's."? Besides, "yes it is" is fun to say.