Comments on: Using the Subjunctive Correctly in English http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/ Crunchy Freaks R Us Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:37:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Emma B http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7897 Emma B Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:58:59 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7897 I'd been messing around with an old Latin textbook we had at home, so my dad thought it would be a good idea to enroll me in Latin 101 at a local college. (Why yes, I was a nerdy kid with a stage-parent dad.) I actually did well in the course, and while I can't say I consciously remembered a whole lot of it, I picked it up again very, very quickly in college. He did the same thing for French, and I eventually became fluent in it. I won't send my children to college classes -- it's socially problematic -- but I do plan to start them on Latin, Greek, and French in elementary school, whether or not we formally homeschool. I'm capable of teaching all three, and if my girls are anything like me, they'll enjoy the secret-language and puzzle-solving aspects of it. I’d been messing around with an old Latin textbook we had at home, so my dad thought it would be a good idea to enroll me in Latin 101 at a local college. (Why yes, I was a nerdy kid with a stage-parent dad.) I actually did well in the course, and while I can’t say I consciously remembered a whole lot of it, I picked it up again very, very quickly in college. He did the same thing for French, and I eventually became fluent in it.

I won’t send my children to college classes — it’s socially problematic — but I do plan to start them on Latin, Greek, and French in elementary school, whether or not we formally homeschool. I’m capable of teaching all three, and if my girls are anything like me, they’ll enjoy the secret-language and puzzle-solving aspects of it.

]]> By: Belgianwaffle http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7896 Belgianwaffle Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:24:49 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7896 Actually, I think that both might be acceptable now (if only I had a modern copy of Fowler). Isn't the subjunctive though one of those things that only works with the verb to be? I feel that it is one of those things that was inserted into English grammar because English grammar was shoehorned into Latin grammar (if you see what I mean). Normally, I am very bitter about this kind of thing but, in this instance, for these reasons, I might let it go. Actually, I think that both might be acceptable now (if only I had a modern copy of Fowler). Isn’t the subjunctive though one of those things that only works with the verb to be? I feel that it is one of those things that was inserted into English grammar because English grammar was shoehorned into Latin grammar (if you see what I mean). Normally, I am very bitter about this kind of thing but, in this instance, for these reasons, I might let it go.

]]> By: Jackie http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7893 Jackie Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:31:02 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7893 A store in my neighborhood that does silk-screening and embroidery has a sign in the window that says "Please check all reciepts for spelling errors before leaving the store." Way to inspire confidence. A store in my neighborhood that does silk-screening and embroidery has a sign in the window that says “Please check all reciepts for spelling errors before leaving the store.” Way to inspire confidence.

]]> By: Stacie http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7890 Stacie Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:17:13 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7890 Wow! What school did you go to that started Latin at 8? (Of course, the school we plan to send the twins to starts Spanish in 1st and Latin in 4th so I know it isn't unheard of but it is unusual to start a dead language that early.) Wow! What school did you go to that started Latin at 8? (Of course, the school we plan to send the twins to starts Spanish in 1st and Latin in 4th so I know it isn’t unheard of but it is unusual to start a dead language that early.)

]]> By: Emma B http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7885 Emma B Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:49:22 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7885 Oh, and I should also say that I took Latin at a very early age (8 years old), and I learned the subjunctive in Latin well before I formally learned it in English. I often think we would be well served to begin teaching foreign languages at a much younger age than we do now. Regardless of whether they acquired fluency in it, it would do wonders for their grasp of their own tongue. Oh, and I should also say that I took Latin at a very early age (8 years old), and I learned the subjunctive in Latin well before I formally learned it in English.

I often think we would be well served to begin teaching foreign languages at a much younger age than we do now. Regardless of whether they acquired fluency in it, it would do wonders for their grasp of their own tongue.

]]> By: Rebecca http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7882 Rebecca Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:55:39 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7882 Thank you! I was just trying to explain this to my cousin, who's trying to master subjunctive in Spanish class at the moment. People don't seem to be aware that it exists in English anymore, but it's there, I tell you! We're keeping it alive! (And I followed you over here from one of your youtube videos. I nursed my twins until eighteen months. I had three different doctors telling me that it was impossible to breastfeed two infants without supplementation. But I had a good book and common sense telling me otherwise. Your two are lovely.) Thank you! I was just trying to explain this to my cousin, who’s trying to master subjunctive in Spanish class at the moment. People don’t seem to be aware that it exists in English anymore, but it’s there, I tell you! We’re keeping it alive!

(And I followed you over here from one of your youtube videos. I nursed my twins until eighteen months. I had three different doctors telling me that it was impossible to breastfeed two infants without supplementation. But I had a good book and common sense telling me otherwise. Your two are lovely.)

]]> By: Stacie http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7880 Stacie Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:55:56 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7880 Emma -- I think you are right and shortly the subjunctive will vanish from English. A very good Latin text actually introduces the subjunctive in the first chapter rather than about halfway through the course on the theory that the subjunctive is really important in Latin and everyone ends up a little fuzzy on it because it shows up so late in so many grammar courses. It wasn't the text I used with my high school kids though I kind of wish it were. Emma — I think you are right and shortly the subjunctive will vanish from English.

A very good Latin text actually introduces the subjunctive in the first chapter rather than about halfway through the course on the theory that the subjunctive is really important in Latin and everyone ends up a little fuzzy on it because it shows up so late in so many grammar courses. It wasn’t the text I used with my high school kids though I kind of wish it were.

]]> By: Emma B http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7875 Emma B Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:53:43 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7875 Oh, this is why foreign languages are such a wonderful thing. The subjunctive is dropping out of popular English usage, but it's alive and well in other languages. However, most of those languages have more verb conjugations than English does in the first place, and I think it's fair to say that's one reason why English is a little bit easier to learn. It is common, though, for languages to drop aspects, tenses and moods as they evolve. Modern Greek has lost the subjunctive and optative moods, to name the example I'm most familiar with. I suspect that, in fifty or a hundred years, the English subjunctive will be considered archaic. Oh, this is why foreign languages are such a wonderful thing. The subjunctive is dropping out of popular English usage, but it’s alive and well in other languages. However, most of those languages have more verb conjugations than English does in the first place, and I think it’s fair to say that’s one reason why English is a little bit easier to learn.

It is common, though, for languages to drop aspects, tenses and moods as they evolve. Modern Greek has lost the subjunctive and optative moods, to name the example I’m most familiar with. I suspect that, in fifty or a hundred years, the English subjunctive will be considered archaic.

]]> By: Katie http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7874 Katie Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:17:38 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7874 I had a business tell me thank's for you're business...it was printed on their business cards. It makes me want to shop there less. Or at least come armed with a red sharpie next time! I had a business tell me thank’s for you’re business…it was printed on their business cards. It makes me want to shop there less. Or at least come armed with a red sharpie next time!

]]> By: Alice http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7873 Alice Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:16:16 +0000 http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2007/12/14/using-the-subjunctive-correctly-in-english/#comment-7873 I love you. Every now and again I realize I have no clue why a certain form is used in a given way, so I have to look it up. Take who and whom--now I know when to use one and when to use the other, instead of relying on my instincts. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who cares. I love you.

Every now and again I realize I have no clue why a certain form is used in a given way, so I have to look it up. Take who and whom–now I know when to use one and when to use the other, instead of relying on my instincts.

It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who cares.

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