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Walter Montego: I have to disagree about the spelling of multiple contractions. In general, there should be an apostrophe wherever one or more letters have been omitted. (In older books one can often find "shall not" contracted as "sha'n't".) I don't know how many times I've seen "wouldn't've" in print (probably not many), but I'm almost certain I've never seen "wouldn'tve".
King Reza: "Have" can be contracted even when used as the main verb; I think this is more common in the UK than in the USA. Here on the Web, Google finds no small number of instances of "I've a", "I've the", and "I've two cats".
Now the propriety of such usage is a separate question. Arguments over grammar often boil down to a question of "Says who?", and contractions are one of the murkier areas if you're looking for absolutely binding rules. It's true that they're best avoided in formal speech and writing, but otherwise if you want to contract, contract. I don't know of anyone with the authority to tell you you mayn't.
King Reza: As a general writing rule I do know of "Avoid contractions whenever you can", but maybe that's because my mentors recognized I´ld never get to grips wit´hem
Walter Montego:Aint's is accepted here. But it is said to be a rather informal form of am not, etc,. so It's better to avoid using it when speaking formally, which is often the case here in universities.
I've heard of no exceptions to what I said regarding 'have.' If it means 'to possess,' it shouldn't be contracted. Otherwise it can be. That's all I've been taught. But the natives make up the rules. Except that 'notion' example, do you have any other cases in mind in which 'have' means 'to possess' but it is contracted?
Contractions of the type that have not in them should only have one apostrophe. "I would not have" is "I wouldn'tve" not "I wouldn't've."
Reza, how's the use of ain't taught there? Avoid or use?
I've never heard the possesion deal with contracting have. That's not a rule I ever heard of, but in your example sentence I would say the word have and not contract it. I think it depends on what is being talked about or possessed. Can notions be possessed? Such as, "I've a notion to do something about that?" I've noticed the over use of the word got, especially when it follows I've. It seems to me if you wouldn't say, "I have got it", then you shouldn't say, "I've got it."
KotDB:According to what I have learnt here in university, 'have' when used as a verb meaning to possess, cannot be contracted. So basically the sentence "I've two cats at home." is wrong. It is to be written in its full form when used as the main verb, but can be contracted when used as part of a verb like " I would've had to swim if I hadn't found my canoe."
playBunny:I'm sorry it took so long to reply. Thanks for the reply. I checked the pics and the one that suited better was the first one: pram. It looks more like what we have here, despite the fact that they have the 'collapsing' capability.
As for the other question, although I'm sure your answer must be thorough enough, I didn't get my answer! My lack of knowledge it should be.
Let me ask my question in another way:
Which one of these explanations goes with which sentence?
1) I have an inner passion for swimming however I may not want to swim right now. Or in other words, swimming is one of the things that I generally like and I do it when I feel like it, maybe now, maybe some other time.
2) Swimming is one of the things that I like and right now, I want to do it. In other words, not only do I like it, but I want to do it right now.
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Or maybe I can give you what I personally think and you can correct me:
I think when I say " I like swimming " I am referring to a general fact. Swimming is a sport and it's fun and I like it. Just like when I say I like hamburgers. I may not be eating hamburgers in that particular time, but as a fact, I like them.
When I say " I like to swim " maybe I'm trying to say that I want to do it right now. But I'm not sure. So what I want to know is the difference between this sentence and the one above.
And, when I say " I'd like to swim " well, I used to think there was some sort of asking for permission in it. But your example gives me the impression that it's conveying strong will. So when I say " I'd like to swim ", I'm trying to say that I really really want to do it and do it now.
gogul: Well, I for one am fond of coining such multiple contractions (we'll've, it'sn't, they'ven't, etc.) in casual writing, but I think you'lln't've much chance of finding them in a dictionary.
An other question (yes, kind people is what you are):
What if you wouldn't know.
Is there a short form of the negation wouldn't. I'm not sure as it is already a shortform of would not. What if I'd write for example: What if you'dn't know.
1) Please give me certain situations in which these three sentences may be said:
I like to swim.
I like swimming.
I would like to swim.
2) What is the name of the wagon like thing that people put babies in and carry around with them? It usually has a handle for parents to push it with an dfour or more wheels.
Pedro Martínez: Both sentences are correct. If there's any difference in meaning, it's very subtle. I'd be inclined to use the less wordy one unless I could think of a good reason for the perfect tense.
Rose: How do you feel about the word "lackadaisical"?
King Reza: I'm quite sure it is proper as well. Pedro, the way you would have said it doesn't sound quite right. BUT it is how I talk, unfortunately, my English has gotten quite laxidazical. (Love that word!)
EatTurkeynotHam: Ráda bych Ti koupila členství Brain Střelec nabízené Pěšcům v rámci listopadové akce, abys tak mohl (or mohla, if it's a woman) po dobu jednoho měsíce bezplatně vyzkoušet a využít všechny možnosti a funkce BrainKingu.
please could somebody translate the following intom czech for me thank you.
The Bishop membership is being offered to pawns, i would like to buy you this membership so you can try the brainking site out properly and enjoy all its features, free for one month.
playBunny: The text I provided below is the only part of the document I was translating where these expenditures of efforts were mentioned. In the end, used quite a general term to tranlate it. Thanks for the link, I think I already understand the sense of the term, the problem is (for me) that there is absolutely no equivalent for it in Czech.
Aangepast door Pedro Martínez (29. oktober 2006, 01:59:39)
vic: Yes, that's (to some extent) what I'm thinking it is as well. The problem I have now is how to put in a similarly beautiful Czech version of the Legalese. LOL
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