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31-May-2005, 19:40
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| |  Re: since two months ago
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea He has lived there since when?
=> exact date/time questioned
Since two months ago.
=> exact date/time mentioned is given and expounded on using "ago" to make it more exact.
Consider:
Pat: He's lived there for two months. (non-exact date/time)
Max:Sorry? Since when, did you say? (exact date/time questioned)
Pat: Since two months ago. (exact date/time previously mentioned)
'two months ago' isn't what we would consider an exact date/time, but given the context, the pragmatics, it's as exact as it's going to get for that particular context.  It's exactly what Pat said. |
I still have to say that in any context the speaker and the listener will know what "two months ago" means. It's now May. Can we consider March an exact date or an exact time? No, we can't. I think a speaker is more likely to say the name of a month. If March means two months ago, then I think it's best to say "March". "Since two months ago" sounds a bit iffy to me. I think Cambridge University came up with a rather clumsy sentence transformation. They should remove it.
Why would Max necessarily say "since when" while Pat said "for" as in "for how long - for two months"? I don't think that's really predictable. I think Pat would more likely say "Sorry? For how long?" or "How long did you say he's lived there for?" "How long did you say he's lived there?"
I think Pat would most likely give the name of a month. I wouldn't rule out "since two months ago" as a possibility, but I wouldn't actively promote it - at all.  |
02-Jun-2005, 03:32
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| | Re: since two months ago
Quote: |
Originally Posted by X Mode I still have to say that in any context the speaker and the listener will know what "two months ago" means. It's now May. Can we consider March an exact date or an exact time? No, we can't. I think a speaker is more likely to say the name of a month. If March means two months ago, then I think it's best to say "March". "Since two months ago" sounds a bit iffy to me. I think Cambridge University came up with a rather clumsy sentence transformation. They should remove it.
Why would Max necessarily say "since when" while Pat said "for" as in "for how long - for two months"? I don't think that's really predictable. I think Pat would more likely say "Sorry? For how long?" or "How long did you say he's lived there for?" "How long did you say he's lived there?"
I think Pat would most likely give the name of a month. I wouldn't rule out "since two months ago" as a possibility, but I wouldn't actively promote it - at all. |
No one's posted anything here since a couple days ago.
Nothin' else to say?   |
02-Jun-2005, 08:24
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| | Re: since two months ago
It's just a transformation. 'two months', a noun phrase is replaced, transformed into another noun phrase, 'when', which in return is replaced, transformed into another noun phrase, 'two months ago', wherein 'two months' no longer functions as a noun. It's now an adjective modifying the noun 'ago'.
Pat: He's lived there for two months.
Max:Sorry? Since when, did you say?
Pat: Since two months ago.
The PET wasn't about 'acceptable' 'correct usage'. It was about transformations. How the blocks of language move and the circles they move in. |
02-Jun-2005, 11:20
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| | Re: since two months ago
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea It's just a transformation. 'two months', a noun phrase is replaced, transformed into another noun phrase, 'when', which in return is replaced, transformed into another noun phrase, 'two months ago', wherein 'two months' no longer functions as a noun. It's now an adjective modifying the noun 'ago'.
Pat: He's lived there for two months.
Max:Sorry? Since when, did you say?
Pat: Since two months ago.
The PET wasn't about 'acceptable' 'correct usage'. It was about transformations. How the blocks of language move and the circles they move in. | That leaves me with another question:
What's the point of this transformation? How is it practical? Are people learning how to use language or how to do transformations? I can't see the practicality in this particular exercise if it results in a sentence that is unlikely to be used and that sounds awkward. Quote:
Pat: He's lived there for two months.
Max:Sorry? Since when, did you say?
Pat: Since two months ago.
The PET wasn't about 'acceptable' 'correct usage'. It was about transformations. How the blocks of language move and the circles they move in.
| But it is acceptable and correct, isn't it? If a language exercise doesn't result in acceptable and correct usage, what is the point of it?
I'm not sure, but you seem to be indicating that "he's lived here since two years ago" is not acceptable and correct usage.
Last edited by Steven D; 02-Jun-2005 at 20:08.
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02-Jun-2005, 16:43
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| | Re: since two months ago
I believe there are 3 floors of audience watching this. |
02-Jun-2005, 20:05
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| | Re: since two months ago
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02-Jun-2005, 22:28
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| | Re: since two months ago
There you are, I've not come here since a couple of months ago and I find you guys fighting with each others! Way to go! 
FRC |
02-Jun-2005, 22:52
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| | Re: since two months ago
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Francois There you are, I've not come here since a couple of months ago and I find you guys fighting with each others! Way to go!
FRC |
Welcome back Francois? Where have thou been, Sir?  |
03-Jun-2005, 04:54
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| | Re: since two months ago
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Francois There you are, I've not come here since a couple of months ago and I find you guys fighting with each others! Way to go!
FRC | I wouldn't call this fighting. We're having a rather friendly discussion.
It's a friendly discussion - very friendly. |
03-Jun-2005, 07:14
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| | Re: since two months ago
I mean fighting as much as gentlemen would fight -- excluding fencing and boxing that is
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