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Grammar pedants - help please.

2 lurkers | 95 watchers

JenL Nov 2016 11:17am, 28 Nov 2016 27,517 posts	Quote Pin JenL Perhaps the answer is to say to someone directly "Clean the bloody carpet!"
Dvorak Nov 2016 11:24am, 28 Nov 2016 12,567 posts	Quote Pin Dvorak I took the q to my mother and without, I hope, coaching her, that is the form she came up with. I think it's also what I would say but having read different forms first I was unclear. I might go and clean the carpet - just got one of those Gtech AirRams and whilst it works, still trying to decide if it justifies its cost. And thinking about it, ram is an odd description for something which essentially pulls, not pushes. And is not a male sheep.
Surelynot Nov 2016 11:24am, 28 Nov 2016 1,277 posts	Quote Pin Surelynot 'The carpet is dirty. Clean the bloody thing!'
JenL Nov 2016 11:51am, 28 Nov 2016 27,518 posts	Quote Pin JenL In a syntax-driven language with a vocabulary the size of that in English, which comes from many, many sources, there are lots of ways of conveying the same idea. This is both its blessing, for those who appreciate being able to give a nuanced outlook on their word, and its curse, for those who like the illusion of certainty that can be achieved from the idea that there is one single perfect form against which all others fall short
RichHL Nov 2016 12:00pm, 28 Nov 2016 12,416 posts	Quote Pin RichHL The similarities between language constructions and usages in Scotland and Northern Ireland is understandable given the history of the Plantations of Ulster Scots. It needs explaining.
Dvorak Nov 2016 12:33pm, 28 Nov 2016 12,573 posts	Quote Pin Dvorak I have to disagree, I think it's needing explained :-p.
Surelynot Nov 2016 12:43pm, 28 Nov 2016 1,278 posts	Quote Pin Surelynot It wants an explanation.
ChrisHB Nov 2016 3:13pm, 28 Nov 2016 14,130 posts	Quote Pin ChrisHB I think "It needs cleaning" uses a gerund, not a participle. Except that I think gerunds are active and this needs passive-iz-ing.
Winded Nov 2016 4:02pm, 28 Nov 2016 4,993 posts	Quote Pin Winded I'll sit here being passive. You can clean the carpet
Dvorak Nov 2016 4:20pm, 28 Nov 2016 12,581 posts	Quote Pin Dvorak Passive? That carpet'll no clean itself, ken.