not logged in
| re: Grammar in "Left in the Dark" | |
Posted by:  |
Dr_Rock 10:52 pm UTC 01/26/07 |
| In reply to: | re: Grammar in "Left in the Dark" - Dr_Rock 10:47 pm UTC 01/26/07 |
| Actually, one last post to answer my own question. Contractions are grammatically acceptable only if used in a colloquial context! Whatever that means? Will > You're right in that "gonna" is an accepted contraction > and is in the Oxford Dictionary, but the same rules apply > for contractions as for slang, which is that they > shouldn't be used in any formal capacity. A song is hardly > a formal capacity; and I use "wanna" and "gonna" many > times in songs or everyday speech. I'll admit that Jim's > use of this word in this situation is correct, although > how contractions are covered by the rules of grammer I > don't know. > > The obvious exception to this is the song, "Woulda Shoulda > Coulda" which should have been banned because, grammer > aside, it's a steaming pile of shite. > > It's late so I'm gonna turn in before I get a chance to > get started on "Obladee Oblada." > > Will > > > Hasn't "gonna" become a legit, accepted contraction for > > "going to" at this point? > > > > > I was actually thinking about the use of "gonna," but you > > > do make some fair and accurate points. > > > > > > Will > > > > > > > "I can't stand to see it NO more." > > > > > > > > How about this nonsensicality: > > > > > > > > "When the screws are tightnin' > > > > and the tears are falling > > > > I can hear her crying out to be saved > > > > and like a bolt of lightning I go answer the call > > > > BUT she's singing like a siren to me over the waves" > > > > > > > > It always struck me that Meat sings "but" when he should > > > > be singing "because." "But" doesn't really make sense in > > > > context, its almost contradictory to the sentiment being > > > > expressed. > > > > > > > > If memory serves (its been many years), Meat sings it the > > > > way the lyrics read, too, so its not just Meat messing up > > > > the line. > > > > > > > > > Badly is correct if you want to say that he didn't do a > > > > > very good job of needing her. If you want to say that he > > > > > needed her very much then the grammatically correct way of > > > > > saying it is that he needed her bad (e.g. see Ted Nugent's > > > > > song "Need You Bad"). However Smeg is correct when he says > > > > > that this can also mean he needs her to be a bad person. > > > > > Don't you just love the English language! > > > > > For a bonus point, can anyone spot the subtle abuse of the > > > > > English language in the song, "I'm Gonna Love Her For Both > > > > > of Us?" > > > > > > > > > > Will > > > > > > > > > > > Badly is correct. It describes how he needs her. If he > > > > > > needed her bad then bad being an adjective would say that > > > > > > he needs her to be a bad person... or a naughty person. > > > > > > For an adverb you ask does it desc ribe the verb. How did > > > > > > he need her? He needed her badly. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Listening to LitD this morning, and this line struck me: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I needed you oh so badly tonight > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Badly" being an adverb, doesn't this mean that the > > > > > > > speaker is doing a poor job of "needing." > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Shouldn't this properly be "needed you oh so bad" ? | |
| reply | | |
| Previous: | re: Grammar in "Left in the Dark" - Dr_Rock 10:47 pm UTC 01/26/07 |
| Next: | re: Grammar in "Left in the Dark" - Vin 06:28 pm UTC 01/26/07 |
| Thread: | |