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 #17 (permalink) Sat Jun 21, 2008 20:29 pm Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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| P.S. I think Amy was the closest if not correct !!! |
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HamburgEnglish
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 Nessie
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| #19 (permalink) Sat Jun 21, 2008 22:58 pm Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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I would agree that Amy is right; but I wouldn't agree that "They" in:
1. They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats.
is a case of "they" for "him/her".
"Best selection of" here premodifies "seats", and refers to a group of seats. Thus the context is of several people, not one.
All the best,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #20 (permalink) Sat Jun 21, 2008 23:18 pm Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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| Quote: | | They does NOT refer to people .... it refers to A PERSON and because we do not know if this person is a HE or a SHE we use the plural ... |
What's your opinion on this, Hamburg?
They who arrive early will get the best seat. |
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Molly
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| #21 (permalink) Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:32 am Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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Hi Molly
It depends totally on situation ... It is not incorrect to say THEY, but it may sound a little strange in some situations.
For example:
You make a mistake at work and you say to your boss ...
Praise be unto Thee, O Mr Johnson. Forgive me for my mistake, let me keep my job ! (smile)
By the way, Mr Johnson is the boss!
Oh yes and while I think about it, have you see the Darth Vader sketch on YouTube? It is so funny I nearly peed myself! Go to YouTube and type in "Darth vader Canteen", choose the LEGO character version..
Do you know who I am? (laughing)
bye bye ...
Rob |
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HamburgEnglish
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| #22 (permalink) Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:36 am Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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| Also a good point Mr P. But still does not omit the use of THEY because it could mean a single person getting seats, or a single person completing this action many times and then the seat they get is plural. Remember, the sentence is written in the context of the present simple (nowadays, fact,) |
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HamburgEnglish
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| #23 (permalink) Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:47 am Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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| Quote: | Do you know who I am? (laughing)
bye bye ...
Rob> |
No, but as long as you do, that's OK, isn't it?  |
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Molly
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| #24 (permalink) Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:33 pm Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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| HamburgEnglish wrote: | But still does not omit the use of THEY because it could mean a single person getting seats, or a single person completing this action many times and then the seat they get is plural.
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We certainly should not discriminate against the polypygous purchaser.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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Nessie
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| #26 (permalink) Sun Jun 22, 2008 20:09 pm Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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| Quote: | | Too much argument now (+_+). So in summary, "they who..." is only used in proverbial or literary cases? |
And beyond. |
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Molly
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| #27 (permalink) Sun Jun 22, 2008 23:06 pm Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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Hello Nessie,
| nessie wrote: | So in summary, "they who..." is only used in proverbial or literary cases?
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I would say rather that it has a flavour of literary or proverbial usage.
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #28 (permalink) Sun Jun 22, 2008 23:16 pm Phrase "They who arrive early will get the best selection of seats" |
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| Quote: | | I would say rather that it has a flavour of literary or proverbial usage. |
Thank goodness. |
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Molly
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| "dislike for" vs "dislike of" | It's about time you sell that old car and buy yourself a new one |
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Are you English? 
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..