Prince William’s speech

Ilovecheese

I don't agree that this thread is inappropriate, a ban on the tiniest little critical comment about a powerful figure is rather chilling

chilling - daft comment. It's not a ban being proposed, it is whether, in this particular instance, it is an appropriate topic for criticism.

Honestly, you would think a grammatical error was more important than a message about the Holocaust.

Some people's priorities must be skewed.

Ilovecheese

I don't agree that this thread is inappropriate, a ban on the tiniest little critical comment about a powerful figure is rather chilling

Indeed.

People can comment, politely, on grammar.

If we're going to be honest, can we just accept that most, if not all the Royal family, do not have the highest level of intelligence . And that is not a criticism; just an observation.

I think I said earlier, the grammar is incorrect, but the content was heartfelt. That's what actually matters.

Moving on, another royal today announcing the birth of Princess Beatrice's second child, also gets it wrong:
^A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital".
Not Eton educated, but The Dragon School! Nit that it matters.

I don't agree that this thread is inappropriate, a ban on the tiniest little critical comment about a powerful figure is rather chilling

Barleyfields

I’m a dyed in the wool pedant Aldom, but there are limits to the nits I pick.

I agree.

I think this thread is inappropriate.

I realise that pedantry is not important compared to the subject of Prince William’s speech yesterday on Holocaust Memorial Day.

I agree absolutely.

No other comments are necessary, it is the message which is important on such an emotional day.

Or "between you and myself". "Myself" seems to have taken over from "me". How often do you hear "Myself and someone else will do this or that"?

“My husband and I”

Sounds like the late Queen.

Actually, I find "me and the wife" entirely acceptable in conversation. Compare French: "moi et ma femme, nous ... "

I've been talking to the lovely guys who are fixing my car. I would have said to them, entirely naturally, "me and my husband used to ... "

"My husband and I ... " would have sounded much too formal, not to say pompous. I would use it in a formal letter or if I were making a formal speech.

Grandma70s is right. If you don't understand about the accusative case, which follows a preposition in English, check it out in your head.

He gave it to John and I ... NO
Would you say, He gave it to I ... NO
Would you say, He gave it to me ... YES
Therefore: He gave it to John and me ... YES

PS I'm a retired teacher of German and French. And I did do Latin A level in 1963.

One of my pupils remarked to me:

"I reckon I've learnt more English from you than I have from my English teacher."

It is up to us ML teachers to get some sort of awareness of syntax across!

PS I'm reasonably tolerant of errors like Prince William's in speech, except for "between you and I" which really gets to me.

I am with Sarnia in this instance. Catherine and I was correct. My husband and I quite acceptable too. Catherine and me sounds completely wrong.

Sparklefizz

Grandma70s

I realise that pedantry is not important compared to the subject of Prince William’s speech yesterday on Holocaust Memorial Day.

However, he said something about it being a “great honour for Catherine and I” - should be “for Catherine and me”. He also pronounced “deteriorate” as “deteriate”. This is a very common mistake, but I would expect better English from the heir to the throne, who represents us on the world stage. So much for an Eton education.

I noticed that immediately Grandma70s
It was still a good speech though.

At least he didn't say 'Catherine and myself' which is becoming more prevalent.

Sarnia

Somewhere in my woolly brain I can remember being taught at Grammar School that 'Catherine & I' is correct if it precedes a verb.
I am sure I will be told if that is incorrect.

If you take out the ‘Catherine and ….’ you can see why it’s wrong. You’d never say ‘for I…’

Sarnia

Somewhere in my woolly brain I can remember being taught at Grammar School that 'Catherine & I' is correct if it precedes a verb.
I am sure I will be told if that is incorrect.

I was always told to take the other person out of the sentence and see which works best.

So "John and I went shopping" becomes "I went shopping", which makes perfect sense.

You wouldn't say "Me went shopping" therefore wouldn't say "John and me went shopping".

I blame the show" Me and My Girl" for the constant misuse of me/I.

Indigo8

I see that Prince George is going to go to Marlborough like his mother rather than Eton like his father.

welback is it only the leisured classes, retired people, the unemployed or the minority of the working people wot knows how to speak proper?

Yes 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Ilovecheese

Having heard some of Boris Johnson's speeches, I am not sure an Eton education is up to much at all.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Barleyfields

Or me and the wife.

Or me and the mrs.

Or me and her indoors

Honestly who cares, but this forum is for pedants.

Year 6 (10/11 year olds) exercise in school.

I see that Prince George is going to go to Marlborough like his mother rather than Eton like his father.

welback is it only the leisured classes, retired people, the unemployed or the minority of the working people wot knows how to speak proper?

So the opinion of those who are not 'working people' does not count?

Some of this reminds me of George V being driven through the Park in the 1920s.
He would rant and rave if he saw a woman with her skirt above her ankles.
Canute style.

I reckon the majority of working people today would see nothing wrong with it.
It probably was checked.