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词组 changes in english
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changes in Englishart: older English form of areart: older English form of are older English form of are 318.1010144changes in Englishchanges in English 31810321fill in/outfill in/outfill infill out 318.910635older English verb formsolder English verb forms 318.1011241theethee 318.1011773thinethine 318.1011790thouthou 318.1011796thythy 318.1011803weekends: at/on weekendsweekends: at/on weekends at/on weekends 318.911918wert: older English form of werewert: older English form of were older English form of were 318.1011929Varieties of English318 changes in EnglishLanguages change over time. Younger people adopt newer forms of expression, while older people often resist change; so even people who speak the same standard language do not speak it in exactly the same way. There are several reasons for change.1communicative needSeveral centuries ago, standard English had two second-person pronouns: thou (singular) and ye (plural). Standard modern English uses you for both. But people still feel the need to distinguish singular and plural, and so expressions like you guys (used for both men and women) are beginning to function as second person plural pronouns.2influence from other varietiesModern British English is heavily influenced by American English. Some structures which were not used by British speakers half a century ago are now as common as their older British equivalents.I feel like I'm getting a cold. (informal) (formal British still: I feel as if I'm getting a cold.)Do you have today's newspaper? (older British form: Have you (got) today's newspaper?)3Languages simplify themselves.As languages develop, complicated structures often become simpler and more regular. This may be happening with English conditional sentences – structures with would or would have in both clauses are quite common in speech.If you'd have asked I'd have told you.4Small, less important distinctions are confused or disappear.Some irregular verb forms like sank/sunk, sang/sung or lay/laid are quite often confused in speech. Examples from the British radio:He wrote eight operas, all of which sunk without trace.… a song she sung in yesterday's concert.Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs also sometimes get mixed up. An example from a British letter:I now have pleasure to enclose the correct proposal form. (instead of … pleasure in enclosing … )When confusions like these become widespread, they can lead to language change. This may well happen with the possessive 's form: more and more people are leaving out the apostrophe or putting it in the 'wrong' place, so that this spelling convention might one day lose its importance and even disappear.5New forms and uses spread through the language.Progressive verb forms came into English a few hundred years ago, and gradually became used more and more widely. There are still a few verbs that are not generally used in progressive forms (4), but even these are losing their resistance. Some typical modern examples:I'm understanding Italian a lot better now.How many eggs were you wanting?I'm loving it.6'Underground' forms become respectable.Some forms have always existed in the language, but have been 'driven underground' by prescriptive rules (317.4), so that they have been avoided by careful speakers. People are now more tolerant of such forms, so they are becoming more common. Some examples:Here's your papers. (instead of Here are … 130.6)Somebody's left their umbrella behind. (instead of … his or her umbrella, 175)Alice and me went to the same primary school. (174.1)between you and I (174.1)7Mistakes become part of the language.Sometimes a mistake is made by so many people that it becomes the normal form, and can no longer be called incorrect (317.5). This has happened with the word data. It was originally a plural, from a Latin word meaning 'given things', but its use as a singular uncountable noun is now established and correct (117). And recently people have started using between … to instead of between … and (e.g. There were between 50 to 60 people on the bus). This, too, could end up as a normal and correct expression.8Phonetically weak forms disappear.The weak form of have in I've got is so quiet that it is often not heard at all; and people are beginning to say I got instead of I've got. Other auxiliaries are tending to disappear in fast speech.What you thinking about?Where you been, then?We better get ready.What you think of the new timetable?If this trend continues, the English auxiliary verb system could end up being completely restructured in speech, and ultimately in writing.9some more examples of changes in modern British EnglishWill and would have now practically replaced first-person shall and should.We will be in touch soon.I would be grateful for some help.Subjunctive were is becoming less common.If I was ten years younger I'd do the job myself.I wish it was Friday.The common American use of a past tense with just and already is also becoming common in British English.Daniel just went out. (instead of Daniel has just gone out.)I already told Megan about the party.May have is increasingly used (like might have) for unrealised past possibilities (71.9).Better treatment may have kept woman (who died) alive.Stood and sat are now frequently used in standard English for standing and sitting (96.4).We found Smith sat in a corner reading a newspaper. Be like is now very common in spoken English as a way of introducing direct speech (257.3).She was like, 'What are you doing here?'. Who is replacing whom.Who do you trust? (George Bush's 1992 election slogan)Some adverbs without -ly are becoming more common.You pronounced it wrong.Comparatives and superlatives with more and most are gaining ground in two-syllable adjectives.'Commoner' used to be commoner, but 'more common' is now more common.Plural noun modifiers are becoming more common. For example, antiques shop is now as common as antique shop, and drugs problem is replacing drug problem.The (very old) use of less with plurals is becoming more respectable.There were less people than I expected.Some Amercian English prepositional uses and phrasal verb forms are moving into British English.The following trains will not run due to engineering work on weekends. (instead of … at weekends.)We met with the unions yesterday. (instead of We met the unions …)Can I speak with Cathy? (instead of … speak to …)We haven't seen Granny in ages. (instead of … for ages.)You have to fill out this form. (instead of … fill in …)10older English verb forms: Tell me what thou knowest.The English of a few hundred years ago was different in many ways from modern English – grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling have all changed greatly. Some of the most striking differences are in the way verbs are formed. Older English had distinct second person singular verb forms ending in -st, with a corresponding second person singular pronoun thou (object form thee, possessives thy, thine ). There were also third person singular verb forms ending in -th, and ye could be used as a second person plural pronoun.Tell me what thou knowest.How can I help thee?Where thy master goeth, there goest thou also.Oh come, all ye faithful. (Christmas carol)Older forms of be included second person singular art and wert.I fear thou art sick.Wert thou at work today?Questions and negatives were originally made without do; later, forms with and without do (including affirmative forms with do) were both common.Came you by sea or by land?They know not what they do.Be not afraid.Then he did take my hand and kiss it.Simple tenses were often used in cases where modern English has progressive forms.We go not out today, for it raineth.Subjunctives (232) were more widely used than in modern English.If she be here, then tell her I wait her pleasure.Inversion ( 270–271) was more common, and infinitives and past participles could come later in a clause than in modern English.Now are we lost indeed.Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. (Shakespeare)And she me caught in her arms long and smalland therewithal so sweetly did me kissand softly said 'Dear heart, how like you this?' (Wyatt)Some of these forms were still used in 19th-century and early 20th-century literature (particularly poetry) long after they had died out of normal usage. Modern writers of historical novels, films or plays often make their characters use some of these older forms in order to give a 'period' flavour to the language. And the forms also survive in certain contexts where tradition is especially valued – for example the language of religious services, public ceremonies and the law. Some dialects, too, preserve forms which have disappeared from the rest of the language – second person singular pronouns (tha, thee, etc) are still used by many people in Yorkshire.Previous Next
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