[MrPedantic]

First, here's a question. Are you talking about a student growing in an English speaking country? Or are you talking about an ESL/EFL student that wants to learn how to speak English?

I'm talking about a tall, muscular student who obviously works out 20 hours a week. I know my limitations.

If you are talking about someone growing up in an English speaking country - someone whose first language is English - I should hope that's exactly what he/she says to you.

You're right. That'd be the way to conclude a discussion of grammar. I bet Chomsky does it all the time.

If you're talking about an ESL/EFL student, then it's very unlikely that he/she would say "up yours".

Shoot, missed that one...

However, this student would eventually find out that your pedantic Englsih is different from the English used in the normal world of English language speakers.

Too late. I've cashed the cheque. Besides, we had some good times together. She'll forgive me.

Yes, but would you tell a student "you can't say it because it's wrong".

Did I say 'wrong'? Hmm. I thought I said redundant, except in unusual situations.

There is what we say, and there is what we write. There is register. There is formal and informal. There's context.

Agreed x 6.

So, is this a "cannot say" to you?

We make many strange little noises, we featherless bipeds. One more won't hurt.

Is the manner in which you speak English really that well controlled? I tend to doubt anyone's spontaneous language conforms to such restrictive views of "ideal language".

I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask, XM. I'll see what the people at work think, and let you know.

MrP