Scott, I doubt Trask is limiting "normal English grammar" to formal written English. I would say that #4,5, 7, 8, and 9 are already "normal" in the sense that they would not strike most speakers as odd when heard in a conversation. In #3, "between you and I" bugs the hell out of me, but I wouldn't want to bet against its becoming accepted even in writing in a few generations. Sentences #1, 2, and 6 are unfamiliar to me. I assume they are from a regional dialect I have not encountered. Dick On Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 8:22 PM, Scott Catledge <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ** > Trask in his *Why do Languages Change* includes (p. 10) nine sentences > that he considered would be or shortly become > accepted as "normal English grammar." One of the sentences (number seven) > is strictly conversational and unlikely > to be encountered in normal writing: I consider the other eight to have > egregious errors. What do you think? > > (1) I recommend you to take the job. > (2) He demanded that the agitators were arrested. > (3) This is just between you and I. > (4) Due to the rain, we had to cancel the picnic. > (5) This paper was written by Susie and myself. > (6) Please come between eight a.m. to six p.m. > (7) If he'd've played, we would have won. > (8) He makes tedious jokes about mother-in-laws. > (9) Having said that, there is no feasible alternative. > > Scott Catledge > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface > at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or > leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/