Content-Transfer-Encoding: |
7bit |
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Wed, 16 Aug 2000 15:39:45 -0500 |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" |
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
My sister arrives at three, but I arrive before (after). (Some purists might
say I can't say it this way, but I just did Does it sound exotic? Maybe.
But it works, and I'm a teacher, not language police. Actually, I like the
sound of it. Oddly British, or maybe I heard it in Hawaii Pidgin.
Jeff Glauner, Assoc. Prof. of English
Park University
Parkville MO 64152
Phone: 816-741-2000 Ext. 6352
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Lemoine" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2000 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: elliptical constructions
> >I imagine the same thing is true for "after" when
> it's >a subordinate conjunction and when it's a
> preposition, >though I don't care to go there. Life's
> too short. A >preposition is a preposition. And a
> subordinate conjunction is a subordinate conjunction.
> Why not leave >it at that?
>
> Max,
>
> Your point is well taken, but in English there are a
> few words, "than" and "as", that aren't easily
> classified in one category or another. They both seem
> to function as prepositions and as conjunctions
> depending on whether the speech/writing context
> requires the use of formal language. Some people (my
> colleagues at least) insist that "before" and "after"
> function similarly.
>
> Is there anyone out there who feels that "before" and
> "after" can permit full ellipsis of the predicate as
> in the following example?
>
> (1) My sister arrived at the movie theater before I
> [arrived at the theater].
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger.
> http://im.yahoo.com/
|
|
|