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To: Homer_J_Simpson

One can’t help but notice phrases such as, “If it don’t come to life ...,” and want to scream, “Doesn’t!” However, I believe Mr. Strong is using a subjective construction, “If it do not come to life ...,” which has largely faded from use.

The only current example I can think of is the “were” in, “If I were Queen, I would outlaw teenagers.”


56 posted on 10/28/2017 5:52:02 AM PDT by Tax-chick (The bigger the problem, the less likely a solution can be politically feasible.)
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To: Tax-chick

You always treat monarchs as if they were a plural, because they represent their nation all of the time.

Hence the “were queen.”


57 posted on 10/28/2017 5:56:45 AM PDT by MrEdd (Caveat Emptor)
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To: Tax-chick

Occasionally, when I simply transcribe a short entry rather than do the whole copy, scan, upload, download routine, I fear readers will think I have made a typo due to one or another of George’s archaic usages. “Shew” comes to mind as an example.


58 posted on 10/28/2017 6:11:37 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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