What is Python?
Grant Edwards
nobody at nowhere.nohow
Tue Sep 26 19:10:19 EDT 2000
In article <39D1259E.2D6668B6 at san.rr.com>, Darren New wrote:
>Grant Edwards wrote:
>> There's plenty of little strange bits hidden in the corners of
>> English. Ever notice that when "I" is the subject, you use the
>> plural verb form rather than the singular?
>
>Can you give an example of that?
I run.
"run" is the plural present-tense form of the verb: "They run."
The singular present-tense form is "runs": "He runs." "It runs."
It's the same for all of the regular verbs:
I write programs vs. He writes programs.
Note that the plurality(?) of the verb is defined by the subject and not the
direct object. But, there's generally only a difference in present tense.
In future, past, and future perfect "I" and "He" will use the same verb.
I will run. He will run.
I will have run. He will have run.
I ran. He ran.
But, in past-perfect you do use the plural "have" instead of the singular
"has" when the subject is "I":
I have run. He has run.
[it's been a few years since English grammar class, so I'm sure I've gotten
a detail wrong somewhere.]
>> People who grew up with formal vs. informal versions of "you" think it odd
>> that we only have the one version.
>
>We do. "Thee" and "thou" and "thine". ;-)
I'd phrase it "we used to". People tend to look at you funny when you use
those. To be honest, I'd forgot about those. ;)
--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! LOOK!! Sullen
at American teens wearing
visi.com MADRAS shorts and "Flock of
Seagulls" HAIRCUTS!
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