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Discussion Groups / British English / May 2004"We were stood there in the queue".. is this correct?
Hi, I moved to London (from Canada) a year ago and I often here this (subject line above) usage of the verbs 'to sit' or 'to stand'. e.g. "I was sat at my desk". People seem to use it to mean "I was sitting at my desk", not that they were made to sit there by someone else which is what is sounds like to me. Can anyone tell me if this usage of the verbs is correct, and how it is looked upon in the UK? I hear it quite a lot, at work, on TV etc so am very curious. thanks for any help, I hope my question makes sense, John At 19:16:54 on Sun, 23 May 2004, JJ <ef@wiuwfeww.com> wrote in <MM6sc.82$0P4.52@newsfe5-win>: >I moved to London (from Canada) a year ago and I often here this (subject >line above) usage of the verbs 'to sit' or 'to stand'. e.g. "I was sat at my >desk". People seem to use it to mean "I was sitting at my desk", not that >they were made to sit there by someone else which is what is sounds like to >me. It's slang usage, incorrect but frequent. It should never be used in written English, but may be used in very informal spoken English, especially in a comic context.  SignatureMolly Mockford I think I've been too long on my own, but the little green goblin that lives under the sink says I'm OK - and he's never wrong, so I must be! (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) > At 19:16:54 on Sun, 23 May 2004, JJ <ef@wiuwfeww.com> wrote in > <MM6sc.82$0P4.52@newsfe5-win>: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > written English, but may be used in very informal spoken English, > especially in a comic context. To my southern ears it sounds northern, but I'm not really sure in which regions it is most common. Cheers Tony SignatureTony Mountifield Work: tony@softins.co.uk - http://www.softins.co.uk Play: tony@mountifield.org - http://tony.mountifield.org tony@softins.clara.co.uk (Tony Mountifield) - a made-up name if ever I've heard one - said >> At 19:16:54 on Sun, 23 May 2004, JJ <ef@wiuwfeww.com> wrote in >> <MM6sc.82$0P4.52@newsfe5-win>: [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >To my southern ears it sounds northern, but I'm not really sure in >which regions it is most common. Up here (100km north of Manchester) it's very common, and used in all except quite formal contexts. SignatureCliff Laine, The Old Lard Factory, Lancaster ... http://www.loobynet.com remove any trace of rudeness before you reply _______________________________________________________ Firstly, the leaders always tell lies, even when unnecessary; secondly, their agriculture is hopelessly inefficient; and the third thing is that the wrapping paper always sticks to their sweets. Former Italian Communist Party leader Berlenguer on the shortcomings of his own PCI > > At 19:16:54 on Sun, 23 May 2004, JJ <ef@wiuwfeww.com> wrote in > > <MM6sc.82$0P4.52@newsfe5-win>: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > in written English, but may be used in very informal spoken > > English, especially in a comic context. > To my southern ears it sounds northern, but I'm not really sure in > which regions it is most common. Nor I; nor am I so sure as Molly that it's slang and not merely an alternative form of perfectly good English hyper-corrected against by those afeared of appearing less than learned. Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/quiz/20-0.htm What starts and ends as a laugh but isn't funny? > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > is looked upon in the UK? I hear it quite a lot, at work, on TV etc > so am very curious. It happens often, and I think it is just dialect. Another example is 1. "The cat needs fed" rather than 2. "The cat needs to be fed" or, 3. "The cat needs feeding" I think 1 is a contraction of 2. > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > I think 1 is a contraction of 2. And what about: 4. The cat needs food ? SignatureKees van der Vlies > Another example is > 1. "The cat needs fed" Now, that is a new one on me. Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/zodiac/acap-0.htm Capricorn (December 22nd - January 20th) Makara - the Sea Monster Khnum (Khnoumis) >> Another example is > >> 1. "The cat needs fed" > > Now, that is a new one on me. Common Scottish English (maybe regional). The car needs washed etc. SignatureRay. >>> Another example is >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >The car needs washed etc. Also common in Northern Ireland, where "to" is often omitted from the infinitive - for example "She wants go home". SignaturePeter Duncanson UK (posting from u.c.l.e) >>>>Another example is >>> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > infinitive - for example "She wants go home". > Whereabouts - I've never heard it in Donegal even though I grew up there. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan >>>>>Another example is >>>> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >Regards, Einde O'Callaghan Among colleagues at Queen's University Belfast. These were employees of all job grades. They were a geographically mixed bunch who came from all over NI. I was not conscious of the usage being specific to any locality - which, of course, proves nothing! The usage was sufficiently common as to become unremarkable. Sorry. I can't be more helpful than that. SignaturePeter Duncanson UK (posting from u.c.l.e) >>>>>> Another example is >>>>> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Sorry. I can't be more helpful than that. It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode of Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the like. SignatureJohn Dean Oxford > It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode of > Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the like. As I haven't watched the programme since the days of Ena Sharples, I can't say whether or not you're right. On the other hand, are you sure you're not just failing to hear an almost elided "t'" ("She wants t'go home") being used to a more emphatic pronunciation of the word "to" which is almost identically to the word "too" (two words which, much to my surprise, are commonly confused in usenet posts)? Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/quiz/50-0.htm On average, how many penguins does an adult polar bear eat each year? >> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode of >> Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the like. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > which is almost identically to the word "too" (two words which, much > to my surprise, are commonly confused in usenet posts)? I am sure. SignatureJohn Dean Oxford > >> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode of > >> Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the like. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > words which, much to my surprise, are commonly confused in usenet > > posts)? > I am sure. Then you're obviously a better man than I. Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/colour/4r-0.htm As Tuesday's Sword of Iron Mars the Redden Earth, Twin Sacraments - of Fire and Blood - dishonour Birth. > > >> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode of > > >> Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the like. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Then you're obviously a better man than I. To save John having to boast, I can reveal that he's a native Mancunian. SignatureDavid ==== Tokyo, for a short while > > > >> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any > > > >> episode of Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > > > Then you're obviously a better man than I. > To save John having to boast, I can reveal that he's a native > Mancunian. I don't often have to admit to being wrong but in this case.... Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/photo/0y05-0.htm The spectral display of Ice Crystal Clouds >>>> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode of >>>> Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the like. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Then you're obviously a better man than I. I am Gunga Dean AICMFP. SignatureJohn Dean Oxford > >>>> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode > >>>> of Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > > > Then you're obviously a better man than I. > I am Gunga Dean AICMFP. I thought you must've been smoking something or other. Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/photo/0y12-0.htm A Climb at Brimham Rocks This climb is booby-trapped >>>>>> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any episode >>>>>> of Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go home" and the [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > I thought you must've been smoking something or other. You're thinking of Ganja Dean AICMFP SignatureJohn Dean Oxford > >>>>>> It's common in Northern English dialects. Tune into any > >>>>>> episode of Coronation Street and you'll hear "She wants go [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > > > I thought you must've been smoking something or other. > You're thinking of Ganja Dean AICMFP Ha-ha! I'm spliffing my sides with laughter. Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/zodiac/7lib-0.htm Libra (September 24th - October 23rd) Images, Associations, Qualities, Careers, Health > >> Another example is > > > >> 1. "The cat needs fed" > > > > Now, that is a new one on me. > Common Scottish English (maybe regional). > The car needs washed etc. That would explain it. Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/zodiac/6vir-0.htm Virgo (August 24th - September 23rd) Images, Associations, Qualities, Careers, Health > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > it is looked upon in the UK? I hear it quite a lot, at work, on TV > > etc so am very curious. > It happens often, and I think it is just dialect. > Another example is > 1. "The cat needs fed" > rather than > 2. "The cat needs to be fed" > or, > 3. "The cat needs feeding" > I think 1 is a contraction of 2. Then it isn't really the same as "sat"="sitting" or "stood"="standing", neither of which are such contractions. Anyway, back to the "sat": Isn't "I was sat watching the cricket" much more pleasant to the ear than the very ugly repeated "-ing" in "I was sitting watching the cricket"? Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/aureole/40-0.htm Sic Transit Gloria Mundi |
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