MrPedantic  +  99198 Sat, 14 May 05 11:14 AM MrP said: "I've never seen Tony Blair cited as an authority for accurate linguistic usage before... " ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ JTT said: "I've never seen Mr Pedantic cited as an authority for accurate linguistic usage before... " ... My comment was simply a repeat of the inane comment from Mr Pedantic which "seems to indicate that the poster is unable to defeat the other party's line of argument (thus resorting to personal comments)". Tony Blair: The son of a barrister and lecturer, Tony Blair was born in Edinburgh, but spent most of his childhood in Durham. At the age of 14 he returned to Edinburgh to finish his education at Fettes College. He studied law at Oxford, and went on to become a barrister himself. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MrP replies: I'm not sure whether you're BrE, or familiar with current affairs, Just the Trout, so you'll forgive me if I tell you something you already know. In the UK, we have recently had a general election. In this election, Mr Blair's linguistic accuracy was much discussed. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	pieanne  +  99200 Sat, 14 May 05 11:18 AM Sorry, I still think there's a typo here: C. PP can also be used for actions which occur further back in the past provided the connexion with the present is still mainteained, that is that the action could be repeated in the present. (e.g) I have seen wolves in that forest ( implies that it is still possible to see them) (e.g) John wrote a number of short stories ( implies that John is still alive and can write more) pieanne Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005 South of France ...But I'm Belgian! Veteran Member 7,517 I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

	senthilvelann  +  99202 Sat, 14 May 05 11:24 AM To Pieanne, Yes. It is a "Typo". It should have been " John has written a number of short stories ( implies that john is still alive and can write more) Sorry for the mistake. Thanks. MSN. senthilvelann Joined on Fri, Mar 25 2005 Full Member 107

	pieanne  +  99204 Sat, 14 May 05 11:25 AM Don't you worry! pieanne

	abbie1948  +  99205 Sat, 14 May 05 11:25 AM Khoff "In fact, Trout, Mr. Pedantic's status as moderator indicates that within the English Forum community, he is recognized as "an authority for accurate linguistic usage." Trout "That's an assumption that's way way too large, Mr/Ms Hoff!" I think being a mod is a position of trust It is my understanding, Trout, that mods. bring varying talents and knowledge to the forum. However, I am given to understand that the major factor is that they repeatedly demonstrate awareness of mature net etiquette. I suppose this would include courtesy and respect for others' opinions. abbie1948 Joined on Thu, Mar 24 2005 England Senior Member 2,657 Hope that helps. Abbie Translation

	MrPedantic  +  99208 Sat, 14 May 05 11:31 AM JTT says: Tony Blair: The son of a barrister and lecturer, Tony Blair was born in Edinburgh, but spent most of his childhood in Durham. At the age of 14 he returned to Edinburgh to finish his education at Fettes College. He studied law at Oxford, and went on to become a barrister himself. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mr Blair's cv is cited by Just The Trout as sufficient refutation in itself of my doubts as to Mr Blair's authority in these matters. I take this to imply that because Mr Blair is the son of a barrister, and was born in Edinburgh, and was educated at the private school "Fettes College", and studied law at Oxford, and was himself a practising barrister, he is naturally an authority for the use of English. I take this also to imply that because John Prescott is the son of a railway signalman, and was born in 'sunny Prestatyn' in Wales, and was educated at a non-private school in Ellesmere Port, and studied economics at Hull, and became a steward in the merchant navy, he is naturally less of an authority for the use of English. Please explain, Just the Trout. MrP MrPedantic Curriculum Vitae

	MrPedantic  +  99210 Sat, 14 May 05 11:34 AM MrP said: The 'progressive' version sounds slightly awkward, though: iii) ??'He's been getting up usually at five o'clock for the last 20 years.' +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Just the Trout said: The present progressive is not used in English to talk about events that have a long timespan. *He is riding his bicycle to work for ten years now.* That's why it sounds awkward. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MrP says: My example iii is not an example of the present progressive. It's an example of the present perfect progressive. MrP MrPedantic Present Perfect, Perfect Progressive, Present Progressive

	MrPedantic  +  99211 Sat, 14 May 05 11:37 AM Ah, yes. Your equivalent to the former Mayor Daley of Chicago: "In my administration I promise we will rise to higher and higher platitudes". MrP MrPedantic

	MrPedantic  +  99217 Sat, 14 May 05 11:55 AM ...I would take the 'last year' here as an afterthought, that clarifies 'already'... In other words: the spoken English even of Fettes-educated Oxonians renowned for their linguistic accuracy is at best a very approximate affair. A glance at any transcript of spoken English, e.g. a court transcript, will demonstrate that most of us (even the barristers and John Prescott) mostly get by with a jumble of fragments and inconsistent burble. The editors of Hansard, for instance, the record of proceedings in the British House of Commons, often ask the speakers to 'clarify' statements; and the most obvious slips are tactfully amended. People dislike seeing literal transcripts of their own ramblings almost as much as they dislike listening to recordings of themselves. MrP MrPedantic