Many people around here can tell you that misuse of the subjunctive or failure to use the subjunctive is a major pet peeve of mine. A sad commentary on the state of education is that the hypercorrection of "me" to "I" has supplanted the subjunctive misuse as the thing that most irritates me, linguistically, in my native language. I've heard people say, "Well, between you and me...sorry, between you and I ... ". I usually tell them they're wrong unless they're paying clients, in which case they can say whatever they want to. Even then, if I know them well and know they won't be offended I would correct a client.
That is my major pet peeve (and the phrase pet peeve, for that matter). I have started teaching people at work how to use me and I, it gets to me so much. Had a 10 minute conversation trying to teach my manager the difference. I think he understood it in the end. Maybe. I don't hold out much hope, to be honest.
Sorry. That wasn't my final point. My final point is that I want to bring back "thou" in English because it has a valid function. I think it is particularly important because too many Americans, especially in the Facebook age, have a very poor ability to distinguish real friends from acquaintances.
Heh. I love "thou". I fully support your cause.
*MySmiley*
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Maurice Druon - The Accursed Kings
- 13/12/2010 08:19:21 PM
19594 Views
Thank you for giving this review - I had forgotten the name of the author and series.
- 13/12/2010 09:29:59 PM
2178 Views
You're welcome (and thanks for the correction, edited).
- 13/12/2010 10:23:55 PM
2172 Views
I know it's not "literary". (EDITED)
- 13/12/2010 10:42:33 PM
2049 Views
And with regard to your edit, I don't have a problem with passé simples myself.
- 13/12/2010 10:53:59 PM
2469 Views
But how can one read any French literature at all without encountering the passé simple?
- 15/12/2010 03:39:37 AM
2292 Views
The point is it is a "literary" tense
- 15/12/2010 10:19:59 AM
2282 Views
Why would I read a lower style of book (I won't use the term "literature" to describe them) ?
- 16/12/2010 06:11:36 AM
2059 Views
I don't want to start a fight here, but your attitude is seriously starting to grate.
- 16/12/2010 06:54:30 PM
2323 Views
I don't care. Start a fight.
- 16/12/2010 08:24:22 PM
2260 Views
Well, or we can have a civil debate on French culture, I suppose... also fun. 
- 16/12/2010 09:09:20 PM
2257 Views
- 16/12/2010 09:09:20 PM
2257 Views
Well, I'm up for that, too.
- 17/12/2010 05:48:39 AM
2245 Views
Good.
- 17/12/2010 09:01:37 PM
2594 Views
- 17/12/2010 09:01:37 PM
2594 Views
Ah - I support the subjunctive!!!
- 18/12/2010 05:10:38 AM
2440 Views
TANGENT
- 18/12/2010 09:56:31 AM
2292 Views
This whole conversation is just a pile of tangents, anyway. *NM*
- 18/12/2010 01:30:09 PM
1038 Views
*NM*
- 18/12/2010 01:30:09 PM
1038 Views
But you don't think its disappearance corresponds to a decline in American culture?
- 18/12/2010 01:29:43 PM
2240 Views
- 18/12/2010 01:29:43 PM
2240 Views
About the passé simple, what Camilla said. As for medieval vocabulary...
- 15/12/2010 07:17:44 PM
2267 Views
That looks like a really fascinating series.
- 13/12/2010 10:56:52 PM
2168 Views
Step up your French lessons!!!
- 13/12/2010 11:50:21 PM
2382 Views
That is a great reason to learn French.
- 14/12/2010 07:29:54 PM
2082 Views
*NM*
Ooooh
- 14/12/2010 07:41:03 PM
2005 Views
I'm really not quite sure how you managed that.
- 14/12/2010 08:09:55 PM
2168 Views
- 14/12/2010 08:09:55 PM
2168 Views