Illogic upon illogic!

[conuly]

Notable quote found in my sociolinguistics packet. This is a quote that sociolinguists would tend to disagree with.

You could have fooled me. I thought it was correct to write 'we were' and incorrect to write 'we was'. I did not realise it was just a question dialect: I thought it was a question of grammar or, if you do not like that word, of logic. You cannot use the singular form of the verb with a plural pronoun.

(emphasis totally mine)

Logic? Logic? How can he think of talking about logic in a system where the singular second person plural is supposed to take, oh yes, a plural form of the verb? I was, you were, he/she/it was, we/you/they were. That's logic? Or does he say "you was"? If so, I'm impressed. Most people taking his stance wouldn't.

Head-hurty....

Comments

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

I didn't think, in English at least, the verb "to be" had any real logic to it.

[conuly]

Strangely, it does, but only if you take the (very) long view.

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

I'll take your word for it. You was studying this stuff more than I.