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If I was your girlfriend....
As a matter of style, the subjunctive mood (i.e., "If I were your girlfriend....") would have been better than the indicative IMHO. I know, I know... this is popular music, not formal English. Still, it bugs me.  Please note: effective March 21, 2010, I've stepped down from my prince.org Moderator position. |
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moderatormatt said: If I was your girlfriend....
As a matter of style, the subjunctive mood (i.e., "If I were your girlfriend....") would have been better than the indicative IMHO. I know, I know... this is popular music, not formal English. Still, it bugs me. 
Things like that bug me too | |
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I like most of the bands people love to hate. | |
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anything on The Rainbow Children, lovingly xenophobic, anti/Semetic and even more women unfriendly than all he has ever done before, incl Sister |
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susannah said: matt said: If I was your girlfriend....
As a matter of style, the subjunctive mood (i.e., "If I were your girlfriend....") would have been better than the indicative IMHO. I know, I know... this is popular music, not formal English. Still, it bugs me.
Things like that bug me too Yes. I can handle a lot of things about American English and even appreciate certain aspects from living there, but here's one particular irritation I have: The use of "would have" instead of "had have". 
For example, people saying "if I would have done such and such". As I understand English it should be replaced with "had have" there. But oh well it's all throughout the American literature from at least Twain on, so whatever!  | |
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mrdespues said: susannah said:
Things like that bug me too Yes. I can handle a lot of things about American English and even appreciate certain aspects from living there, but here's one particular irritation I have: The use of "would have" instead of "had have".
For example, people saying "if I would have done such and such". As I understand English it should be replaced with "had have" there. But oh well it's all throughout the American literature from at least Twain on, so whatever! oh, i remember it well ... "there's no 'would' in an if-clause" memories of grammar lessons of the past 
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IrresistibleB1tch said: mrdespues said: Yes. I can handle a lot of things about American English and even appreciate certain aspects from living there, but here's one particular irritation I have: The use of "would have" instead of "had have".
For example, people saying "if I would have done such and such". As I understand English it should be replaced with "had have" there. But oh well it's all throughout the American literature from at least Twain on, so whatever! oh, i remember it well ... "there's no 'would' in an if-clause" memories of grammar lessons of the past
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mrdespues said: susannah said:
Things like that bug me too Yes. I can handle a lot of things about American English and even appreciate certain aspects from living there, but here's one particular irritation I have: The use of "would have" instead of "had have".
For example, people saying "if I would have done such and such". As I understand English it should be replaced with "had have" there. But oh well it's all throughout the American literature from at least Twain on, so whatever! That's why I just delete all of would/have and go straight for the lazy "I'd've." Though that probably ain't much better! Dammit. This one's for you. | |
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