tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post1190905041916068521..comments2024-02-25T20:07:56.114-06:00Comments on Mr. Verb: Colbert updateMr. Verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04048931596146402872noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post-8130353288485280602007-10-16T17:28:00.000-05:002007-10-16T17:28:00.000-05:00As someone from western North Carolina, I definite...As someone from western North Carolina, I definitely agree ... Thompson's not mountain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post-71611609238949444432007-10-16T17:22:00.000-05:002007-10-16T17:22:00.000-05:00As for the Appalachian quip, being from West Virgi...As for the Appalachian quip, being from West Virginia I know Thompson definitely doesn't sound like anyone from around here. Maybe like someone from the southern part of the state or maybe in Virginia, but his accent definitely makes me think more of Alababma or Georgia before I ever think of the more mountainous regions.GAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756535843412579846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post-20776657101943059882007-10-14T12:10:00.000-05:002007-10-14T12:10:00.000-05:00Good point. Yeah, I assume it's that verb issue, w...Good point. Yeah, I assume it's that verb issue, where the deletion requires identity, and this violates that. <BR/><BR/>But the weird thing is, when I first heard/saw the title, I tried to read it as utterly disconnected clauses … like "I am America (and violets are blue!). That is, it took a minute to realize it was a single, ungrammatical utterance.<BR/><BR/>The title has grown on me, by the way.Mr. Verbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04048931596146402872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post-6722500067408724072007-10-14T12:01:00.000-05:002007-10-14T12:01:00.000-05:00I forgot to say, when I was editing that, that wit...I forgot to say, when I was editing that, that with a modal in the first clause (I can be America) you actually can get away without the "be" in the second: I can be America, and you can, too!The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33159158.post-4490355615607381772007-10-14T11:59:00.000-05:002007-10-14T11:59:00.000-05:00I think it's fascinating to try to explain just wh...I think it's fascinating to try to explain just <I>why</I> the title is ungrammatical. <BR/><BR/>Clearly, the modal "can" can be used with "to be", and "you can be America, too!" is perfectly acceptable.<BR/><BR/>We're used to the second clause following a modal in the first (I can be America, and you can be, too!) but things like on the order of "I lost weight on this diet and you can, too!" are also perfectly fine. And note that here, "lose weight" doesn't need repeating. <BR/><BR/>But while, "I lost weight and you can, too" works, "I am thin, and you can be, too" is the only way to say that. Not "I am thin and you can, too".<BR/><BR/>So what is it, exactly, that makes "I am America, and you can, too!" not work? Why does the verb "be" have to be repeated? Because it does.The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.com