ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: nerdmmb on January 24, 2014, 06:45:07 pm

Title: Some grammatical questions...
Post by: nerdmmb on January 24, 2014, 06:45:07 pm

I had a few questions :)

1. What is the difference between among and amongst?

2. Why does 'haven't you...' make sense but 'have not you' doesn't?


Thanks! And feel free to add some of your own questions! :)

Title: Re: Some grammatical questions...
Post by: Anchy on January 24, 2014, 06:52:58 pm

Quote from: nerdmmb on January 24, 2014, 06:45:07 pm

I had a few questions :)

1. What is the difference between among and amongst?

2. Why does 'haven't you...' make sense but 'have not you' doesn't?


Thanks! And feel free to add some of your own questions! :)

I don't think there's any difference between among and amongst. I'm sure you can use them interchangeably.

As for your second question, i have no idea. Maybe it's 'have you not' rather than 'have not you'?

Title: Re: Some grammatical questions...
Post by: nerdmmb on January 24, 2014, 07:05:17 pm

Quote from: Anchy on January 24, 2014, 06:52:58 pm

I don't think there's any difference between among and amongst. I'm sure you can use them interchangeably.

As for your second question, i have no idea. Maybe it's 'have you not' rather than 'have not you'?

Mm.. True although if you think about the way the apostrophe has been used just makes it sound wierd

Title: Re: Some grammatical questions...
Post by: vox nihili on January 24, 2014, 07:24:45 pm

Quote from: nerdmmb on January 24, 2014, 06:45:07 pm

I had a few questions :)

1. What is the difference between among and amongst?

2. Why does 'haven't you...' make sense but 'have not you' doesn't?


Thanks! And feel free to add some of your own questions! :)

1. There is none, it's just about choice. Amongst is perhaps a little more literary than among.

2. Language change. "have not you" was once an acceptable form and was completely normal in colloquial speech. It was shortened to haven't you in informal contexts. Haven't you has persisted, whereas the other form hasn't. So really, "haven't you" stands as a remnant of bygone syntax. Good question!

Title: Re: Some grammatical questions...
Post by: nerdmmb on January 24, 2014, 08:35:34 pm

Quote from: Mr. T-Rav on January 24, 2014, 07:24:45 pm

1. There is none, it's just about choice. Amongst is perhaps a little more literary than among.

2. Language change. "have not you" was once an acceptable form and was completely normal in colloquial speech. It was shortened to haven't you in informal contexts. Haven't you has persisted, whereas the other form hasn't. So really, "haven't you" stands as a remnant of bygone syntax. Good question!

Thank-you T-Rav for that informative response! Makes sense :)