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#2 (permalink) Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:31 pm British English being influenced! - The use of 'Like' |
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Hi Tom Let me have a whack at it 8)
like here is a conjuction as in:
Ex.It happened like you might expect it would.
Maybe, earlier like was only a verb 8) ( like can perform the functions of the verb, adjective, adverb...)
Maybe, initially it was correct to say: Have you...?
I've answered at hazard( I haven't Michael Swan's book at hand 8) ) |
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Pamela I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1271 Location: RF
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#3 (permalink) Mon Dec 18, 2006 14:24 pm British English being influenced! - The use of 'Like' |
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. NOW: Like I do FORMERLY: As I do
NOW: Do you have? FORMERLY: Have you? (As Pamela explains) . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#4 (permalink) Tue Dec 19, 2006 12:03 pm British English being influenced! - The use of 'Like' |
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Michael Swan really does not hightlight the main use of like in this context. More common especially colliquially is "Like you do". To clarify the context here is an example of possible useage.
"He asked his mate; `hows ya MRS doin?, like ya do!"
*Ya stands for you. MRS can be used sarcastically to refer to a girlfriend who you have been with for a long time or you act like husband and wife. It is not offensive to use, and is British English is commonplace in parts of London and the North.
The use here of "like ya do" is suggesting that the term MRS is either inappropriate or so commonplace as to be almost normal.
"Like I do" sounds quite forced to me or pretentious.
e.g. You want to speak German like I do, without an accent and very high German: ; )
It may still be used, but the speaker deserves a big wet fish slap round the face.
"Like" has infected English in many more commonplace ways but that is a discussion for a different thread. _________________ Please meet Stewart Tunncilff |
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Stew.t. I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 561 Location: Leipzig, Germany
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#5 (permalink) Tue Dec 19, 2006 13:14 pm British English being influenced! - The use of 'Like' |
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| stew.t. wrote: |
Michael Swan really does not hightlight the main use of like in this context. More common especially colliquially is "Like you do". To clarify the context here is an example of possible useage.
"He asked his mate; `hows ya MRS doin?, like ya do!" ...
"Like I do" sounds quite forced to me or pretentious.
e.g. You want to speak German like I do, without an accent and very high German: ; )
It may still be used, but the speaker deserves a big wet fish slap round the face. |
Hi Stew
"Like ya do" is another expression I'd never heard before. I do agree that your particular sample sentence with "like I do" sounds pretentious. I disagree, however, that using "like I do" is what is responsible for making it sound "forced and pretentious". Using "like I do" doesn't automatically sound forced and pretentious -- it depends on the context.
I think you'll agree that the following, for example, isn't pretentious in the least: "He doesn't speak German like I do. I'd be happy as a clam if my German was even half as good as his." :)
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#6 (permalink) Tue Dec 19, 2006 13:21 pm British English being influenced! - The use of 'Like' |
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| Quote: |
| "Like I do" sounds quite forced to me or pretentious. |
1-He does not make blunders like I do--I don't know why I keep forgetting things!
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#7 (permalink) Tue Dec 19, 2006 15:36 pm British English being influenced! - The use of 'Like' |
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Back in the 1990s, "like" began replacing sounds like um, ahhh, uhhh, erm, etc. -- pause noises.
The average junior high student (girls are especially known for this -- don't throw anything at me, please, ladies) might be heard using "like" in the following context:
"Like, oh my God, like, my dad totally, like, won't let me drive his Porsche and, like, it sucks so bad." _________________ Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee. |
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Prezbucky I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2621 Location: Nashville, TN (USA)
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| Stand corrected | You taking the time vs. your taking the time |