Dragaera

More word usage...

books at bofh.com books at bofh.com
Fri Aug 16 13:15:51 PDT 2002

>However, here's something else to ponder:
>The use of "I" or "Me", in sentences like:
>She gave John and I presents.
>or
>Between you and I...

>From my understanding, both are incorrect (or were
>at one point...:)

>Any thoughts?

I like this example because, for me, it demonstrates a flaw
in my English.

For whatever reason, I always use " and I", even though 
I believe both of your examples are flawed.

BUT, it sounds right to me.  So, if someone corrects me,
I say , "You're right, it's a flaw in my use of the language,
but for whatever reason, I haven't been able to fix it."

I find the same thing with some plural words.  I will
never use "houses", but instead use "homes" for a plural
of house.  Wrong?  Probably.

Then there are others which I deem wrong, and dictionaries
allow multiple right answers.

Fish, comes to mind.  One fish.  Two fish.  Not, two fishes,
although when I have looked it up the dictionary allows it. 

Fundamentally the reason I believe these flaws developled was
because I learned English from reading, far before I learned
about grammar, and as a result I lack a solid foundation.

At least I learned it reading Tolkein.  :)

-Jot