English Language Discussion Forums

**Tdol** · #1 03-Dec-2003, 00:55

**RonBee** · #2 03-Dec-2003, 02:14

I imagined a youngster saying, "I forgot my homework at home." So I voted Either. Then I changed my mind. :(

"I forgot my homework" is, of course, more likely.

:)

**Tdol** · #3 03-Dec-2003, 02:40

That wasn't my vote- in BE, we don't use 'forget' with the place. i have now voted for 'left', which is what we'd say. 'Forgot' is something students use, but which is tested and marked wrong. We need more votes here.

**RonBee** · #4 03-Dec-2003, 04:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

That wasn't my vote- in BE, we don't use 'forget' with the place. i have now voted for 'left', which is what we'd say. 'Forgot' is something students use, but which is tested and marked wrong. We need more votes here.

We don't usually use "forgot" with the place in AE either. (Somebody did vote for that.) The computer wouldn't let me change my vote. :(

We need somebody to break the tie.

:wink:

Casiopea · #5 03-Dec-2003, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

Both :D

I forgot my homework. SVO
I forgot my homework at home. SVO+adjunct modifier
I left my homework at home. SVOC
I left my homework. (Not OK)

:D
____________
S = subject
V = verb
O = object
C = complement (modifies 'homework', e.g. my homework is at home.)

NP = noun phrase
VP = verb phrase
IP = inflectional phrase = sentence

**Tdol** · #6 03-Dec-2003, 11:00

In BE, 'forgot it at home' is frowned upon.

**RonBee** · #7 03-Dec-2003, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

Both :D

I forgot my homework. SVO
I forgot my homework at home. SVO+adjunct modifier
I left my homework at home. SVOC
I left my homework. (Not OK)

:D
____________
S = subject
V = verb
O = object
C = complement (modifies 'homework', e.g. my homework is at home.)

NP = noun phrase
VP = verb phrase
IP = inflectional phrase = sentence

Interesting analysis. But you didn't vote that way.

:wink:

Casiopea · #8 04-Dec-2003, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

In BE, 'forgot it at home' is frowned upon.

Me thinks the frownage has something to do with omission:

I forgot that I left my homework at home. (OK)
I forgot (that I left) my homework at home. (Non-BE, OK)

:D

**Tdol** · #9 04-Dec-2003, 12:08

It gets a double frown:

1- for the cheap lie (teachers prefer more imaginative lies)
2- for using a non-standard BE expression

Much better to say that your neighbours python swallowed it and won't give it back.

Casiopea · #10 04-Dec-2003, 12:31

Why frown on "I forgot this"? I'm confus-ED. :D

It's the same as "I forgot (that I left my homework at home)" wherein 'at home' modifies 'left', which OK in BE. No? Help. Mind falling off edge of world. :D