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.
DickOn Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 8:22 PM, Scott Catledge <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
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"Trask in his Why do Languages Change includes (p. 10) nine sentences that he considered would be or shortly becomeaccepted as "normal English grammar." One of the sentences (number seven) is strictly conversational and unlikelyto 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 CatledgeVisit 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/
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/