This "have/'ve/of" clitic has taken on a life of its own. In "If I'd'a
been there" the "'d" could be a contraction of "would." But in "If I
had'a been there," admittedly non-standard, what's the "'a" a
contraction of? Surely not "If I had have been there." But I've also
heard--and can say--"If I'd'a'a been there" (surely not from "If I would
have have been there?"). I don't know what the second "'a" is, but I've
heard it often enough and from a lot of speakers. Phonetically it comes
out as a lengthened schwa or perhaps a double schwa representing to
syllables.
Herb
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of DD Farms
Sent: 2008-03-14 13:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Subjunctive thoughts
At 04:25 PM 3/13/2008, Veit, Richard wrote:
>That fact that half of a group of educated speakers did not use the
>subjunctive to describe a hypothetical situation is more evidence
>suggesting that the subjunctive is disappearing from our language.
DD: I agree. Now consider that in the expression "If I were King,
..." the probability hint is given in the preposition. The "were
[Subjunctive use.]" is redundant. {Yes, redundancy is important.} If
you say, "If I was King." the idea still comes across that you are
not. "If I am King . . .". Gives a different slant. Sort of a , "Well
then, now that I am, here is what I am going to do." Hmm. Note
another item. If we move to the past, suggesting kingship probability
or impossibility in the past, it becomes, colloquially, "If I'd of
been King ...". Is that really "of" ? Is it an understood by the
speaker and listener to be slurred, "If I had have been King..."? {My
mind blocks out the, "Iffen I dove been King . . ."}
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