To Mike, tdol.

[Taka]

I'm going to do a straw poll of others and see which would be their default reading, then I'll let you know.;-)

OK. Thank you, tdol. And I am looking forward to the result.

[Tdol]

I'm also asking site visitors:
http://www.usingenglish.com/poll/index.php?poll_id=320

The more I look at it, the more it strikes me as regional rather than standard. It might even be a class thing- I'm going to check.

[Tdol]

My mother would follow the BE pattern.

[Taka]

My mother would follow the BE pattern.

By the way, what do you mean by "a class thing"? Is it a social class or something?

[Taka]

My mother would follow the BE pattern. ;-)

:lol:

By the way, what do you mean by "a class thing"? Is it a social class or something?

tdol?

[Tdol]

I was wondering that before I spoke to my mum. She's a tradityionalist and I was wondering whether I had been brought up to follow a certain line on something (like 'if I were'), but she went for your view. However, she did say she didn't like the wording and would go for 'Have this toy in case he cries'. With this version, I can see no other interprtation. Maybe there has been a generational change and I have absorbed the American usage.


.... Next stop a teacher of about my age.

[Tdol]

Actually, I have just tried a brother and he agreed with the BE version. Maybe I've spent too long in the company of the likes of Mike.

[Taka]

Actually, I have just tried a brother and he agreed with the BE version. Maybe I've spent too long in the company of the likes of Mike. ;-)

Hmm...interesting.

So, what you mean by "a class thing" is some sort of difference between generations or the different situations where you are?

[Tdol]

There are language choices that are predominantly made by a social class. For example, somepeople think that the word 'toilet' is a working class term. We are still a class conscious society in Britain, though less so.

[Taka]

There are language choices that are predominantly made by a social class. For example, somepeople think that the word 'toilet' is a working class term. We are still a class conscious society in Britain, though less so.

Ah! So my first interpretation was right.

Thank you, tdol!