You’re clearly a bit of a fellow word nerd. Do you have any feelings about the fact that none of that matters anymore if we all just agree that it doesn’t, which one could have an easy time arguing that we have? Sometimes, after spending a rousing five minutes explaining the MOST correct pluralization of ‘octopus’, the only answer I can give to the inevitable question of “why does it matter?” Is “it doesn’t”.
Comment on Nice clean shoes
seSvxR3ull7LHaEZFIjM@feddit.de 5 months ago
If he only said “I cleaned my shoes”, they could be dirty again. Now you know the difference between present perfect and simple past. English grammar, it’s weird (but every language’s is, to be fair).
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Cort@lemmy.world 5 months ago
If you were trying to describe a mess of cables how would you use octopus in an adjective form?
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Thank you for your question.
Option 1: “I’m not fixing your computer until you sort out the octopus bullshit going on behind your desk”
Option 2: “The cable adapter you’re looking for is probably in this box, but it’s pretty octopussy in there.” Then hold firm, direct eye contact with a serious face until they respond.
sangriaferret@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Octopussian
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 5 months ago
All collective nouns should be replaced with the word “group”.
seSvxR3ull7LHaEZFIjM@feddit.de 5 months ago
I don’t know if it “matters”, and I’m not a prescriptivist who wants to tell others how to talk, but it’s interesting.
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Don’t even get me started on whoever decided that through, trough, and though, don’t rhyme, but pony and Bologna do. I bet he was a colonel who kept a journal… Asshole…
seSvxR3ull7LHaEZFIjM@feddit.de 5 months ago
To be pedantic that’s not grammar but orthography (which in English is even weirder). English is just a mutant amalgamation of Germanic, Romance and Celtic languages and man, it shows.
HaveYouPaidYourDues@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Three languages in a trench coat
samus12345@lemmy.world 5 months ago
There’s very little Celtic in modern English. Germanic, Latin, and French (which is derived from Latin) are the biggest contributors.
puppy@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Don’t forget French.
Soup@lemmy.world 5 months ago
French is technically a romance language but it is very different from the others.
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 5 months ago
What’s up with the +1 heart on this comment?
snooggums@midwest.social 5 months ago
Mashing together all the languages into a Frankenstein form of communication is English grammar.
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Except for the reason why we have different words for ‘chicken’ while it’s alive, and ‘poultry’ after it’s been slaughtered.