Hello,
I have a question concerning the use of the past participle 'brung'.
I was wondering what the origin and use of this form is.
I could think of several possibilities:
- analogy (like children would make) with verbs like ring (-rang-rung).
- dialectic forms. I.e. used regional. If so I would like to know in which dialects this form is used. Or was used in the past..(?)
- an old form that isn't been used that much anymore b/c it has been replaced with brought. (Not very likely I suppose.)
(But, after all there is a general tendency in English to narrow down the range of verb forms, maybe this is a next stage?)
I don't know whether the form 'brung' was used in older English literature. I do know that Mark Twain used it. (Apparently it is a form widely used in spoken language in the southern states. (?))
Also Morrissey (former leadsinger of 'The Smiths', from Manchester, England) uses 'brung' in the song 'I have Forgiven Jesus' (i.e. "Forgive me any pain I may have brung to you").
I also heard that 'brung' was used in an older form of the Dublin dialect but isn't around anymore.
So, I guess it is used on both sides of the 'pond'. I don't know about Australia.
Thank you in advance for any response.
-- Daphne, Belgium.