English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

user116848

14:00

He asked me where I was the whole evening. That correct?

Matt Эллен

yes

user116848

He asked me later that is. So, what do you think?

user116848

Sorry got deleted

Matt Эллен

reported speech always has already occurred

i.e. it's always referring to something in the past

user116848

"He asked me where I had been the whole evening" I wrote it with "was" and you said it was okay.

Matt Эллен

14:03

yes

both are fine

simple past and perfect constructions are fine for reporting questions

user116848

So both are? Matt that's exactly what I been asking you

Matt Эллен

right, but your first question added in do-support, which is wrong

user116848

For reported right? Because some books give a choice

user116848

I saw wiki's do support article not sure I got it. Can you give the jest from it

Matt Эллен

there are always exceptions, but in the questions you've posed then either simple past or had + past participle are fine

do-support in question is one way of asking them

e.g.

> How did you eat all the pies?

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

14:07

Top of the balrog, all.

user116848

Hi

Matt Эллен

Good balrog to ye, @cornbreadninja麵包忍者

user116848

@MattЭллен And...

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

omg, omg, 5 hours left.

@MattЭллен curtsies

Matt Эллен

@Farooq so when reporting the question *"He asked me how I did I eat all the pies" is wrong

user116848

14:09

okay..

user116848

So correct would be?

Matt Эллен

because you don't report like that. you report by turning it into simple past or had + past participle: "He asked how I ate / had eaten all the pies"

user116848

With "had"

Matt Эллен

you drop the do-support

and put it into some kind of past tense

user116848

Okay:) that's new to me. Thanks Matt. And reading...

Matt Эллен

14:11

no probs :)

user116848

yes...

user116848

Nod

user116848

So my first could go like this "Tom asked me where I heard about the vacancy" that okay without do-support

Matt Эллен

yes

user116848

Do you have any other complex example that you would like to share with me?

Matt Эллен

14:17

um

Robusto

Haha. Key criterion being "would like to share" . . .

user116848

@Robusto So:) Whats funny about that?

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

I want some pie.

Robusto

@Farooq It's funny because it's true.

@cornbreadninja麵包忍者 @MattЭллен at it all. Sorry.

user116848

@Robusto True what? I didn't get the joke

Robusto

14:18

Apparently.

Matt Эллен

> Robusto asked me why I asked cornbread what she was doing with Mitch

Robusto

That's why we go over this stuff.

Matt Эллен

aye

user116848

"Robusto asked me why I asked cornbread what she was doing with Mitch" So here why not say it like "Robusto asked me why I had asked cornbread what she had been doing with Mitch"

Matt Эллен

style

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

14:21

Aw geez. Went for coffee at the wrong time.

Robusto

Note that you can get your hair done and you can get your shit done, but not at the same time—unless getting your hair done was one of the elements involved in getting your shit done.

user116848

@MattЭллен So both are fine? Right

Matt Эллен

@Farooq yes

Robusto

@Farooq Lies!

user116848

@MattЭллен But not like ""Robusto asked me why did I ask cornbread..." That would be with "do-support"?

Robusto

14:23

I am not responsible. Note that this does not mean I am irresponsible.

user116848

@Robusto Lies:)???

Robusto

What curious punctuation you have.

user116848

Lies about?

Robusto

Looks like a cringing question. Interesting.

user116848

So I should drop my question? I guess

Robusto

14:26

@Farooq No offense, but I was not addressing you. I was indulging in meta-contextual humor that you don't understand.

user116848

None taken

user116848

But not like ""Robusto asked me why did I ask cornbread..." That would be with "do-support"?

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

I'm tired.

lies about

Robusto

If you come in here, expect that you may not understand much of the discussion going on.

user116848

Why? Not of my caliber?

user116848

14:28

:P

Robusto

@Farooq If you must know, that is a common usage. But more common might be "Robusto asked my why I asked cornbread ..."

@Farooq Matt used an example sentence that made a statement involving my username on this site. My joke was to take his example as a literal assertion about me.

It has nothing to do with you.

Matt Эллен

@Farooq that's right

sorry, work called

I might go offline, as they're "fixing" the firewall

Robusto

@MattЭллен Heh. We may never hear from you again, if their goal is to prevent you wasting time at work.

Matt Эллен

true. I'd still be wasting my time though...

user116848

@MattЭллен So I asked not like ""Robusto asked me why did I ask cornbread..." That would be with "do-support"?

Jasper Loy

14:32

@Farooq You should write "Robusto asked me why I asked ... " instead.

Matt Эллен

@Farooq that's right

user116848

Thanks to all you guys

user116848

Appreciate it

Jasper Loy

That would be a million dollars, lol.

Matt Эллен

You're welcome

user116848

14:33

Perhaps can buy you all a car :)

user116848

It was a joke

user116848

Not rich

Matt Эллен

it's OK. we don't know where you live, so we can't send the bailiffs around

user116848

Bailiff? But if you knew?

user116848

:)

Matt Эллен

14:36

:D

Jasper Loy

They should have a feature that lets you hide replies to you from the sight of X if X has ignored you.

Matt Эллен

that would make sense

Jasper Loy

I am sick and tired of some users who are sick and tired of me as well.

Matt Эллен

maybe you should request it on metameta

user116848

Hi jasper

Jasper Loy

14:39

I have put up with them for too long, lol.

X says something bad to you, and he doesn't feel anything, then when you say something harmless to X, X pretends to be victimised.

Matt Эллен

that's people for you

user116848

Any good "reported speech" site?

user116848

You know any?

Matt Эллен

Sorry, I've not come across any

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

balrog balrog?

> I am in a party. The balrog is depleted. Then some son of Eru manufacture even more balro. Yay.

user116848

14:53

Whats balro?

user116848

A creature?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

a balro is a balrog without the g

user116848

Yeah what is it?

Matt Эллен

a creature with wings of shadow

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

giggles

user116848

14:55

Haha I know

user116848

But

user116848

Here?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Yes! This chat is beyond any of you! Fly, you fools! Swords will be no use here!

Matt Эллен

on the Internet noöne knows you're a balrog

user116848

lol

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

14:58

@MattЭллен I wonder if balrogs can type. Like, if a balrog awoke from wherever he'd been hiding lo all these years, and got annoyed by the ~~dwarves~~ oil companies drilling too deeply, would he just start smashing things? or start an angry blog

Matt Эллен

they can probably type

are they smart like wizards?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Well, they are Maiar, right? So, in theory, yes. But they've somehow become twisted by Melkor, so who knows. Maybe they're too grumpy to learn how to operate a computer.

Matt Эллен

balrogs are wizard's evil analog, right?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Sorta

They're in the same class of beings. But they use strength and fear and fire and smoke to get shit done. Wizards use telling people to do stuff.

Matt Эллен

tumblr is the home of all grumpy teenagers

Mitch

15:01

@MattЭллен If they so smart why ain't they rich?

@Mr.ShinyandNew安宇 So bossy.

Matt Эллен

@Mitch If you were so smart would you be rich?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Mitch Saruman was pretty rich.

Mitch

@MattЭллен Hell yeah. Rich in creamy creamy Nutella. cuz then I could afford it, That stuff is expensive.

@Mr.ShinyandNew安宇 He just had a good dry cleaner. Don't let clothes fool you.

Matt Эллен

the real nutella was in you all along

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Mitch I dunno. He had his own tower, with its own walls, its own staff, presumably farms, and a standing army.

he squandered his money fighting a costly war against Rohan.

Matt Эллен

15:04

@Mitch if wizards would stop enchanting my clothes to be smarter than me, start a ponzy scheme and trick me into investing, then I would.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

they should just enchant your clothes to invest for you.

Matt Эллен

they like to laugh at their own ability to outsmart me. bloody wizards

you'd think I'd learn by now

Jasper Loy

15:22

TeX Live 2014 has been released, but the mirrors may not have synced.

Ionicã Bizãu

Evening!

Jasper Loy

Hello.

@MattЭллен I am actually a chicken. Cluck!

Matt Эллен

boc boc

time to go

Jasper Loy

@MattЭллен See you in your home, lol.

Ionicã Bizãu

Would Bloggify be a good name for a blogging platform?

Or any other suggestions?

Jasper Loy

15:33

@IonicãBizãu Sounds good to me.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@IonicãBizãu is that not taken, already?

Ionicã Bizãu

@Mr.ShinyandNew安宇 Is it? I didn't find any...

Jasper Loy

@IonicãBizãu Then you are lucky, lol.

Ionicã Bizãu

If you find any, please tell me... I don't want to copy some product name that is already taken...

Jasper Loy

@IonicãBizãu Is your name Romanian?

Mitch

15:39

@Mr.ShinyandNew安宇 He was just an administrator. A functionary even. Lives in a split level. Mows his own lawn.

Ionicã Bizãu

@JasperLoy Yes, it is. :-) My real name is Bizău Ioan

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@IonicãBizãu I didn't see it on the first page of google results. But I dunno, it just seems too obvious, or something.

Mitch

@MattЭллен I'm gonna start a pony scheme. Everyone gets a pony.

Ionicã Bizãu

@JasperLoy Ioan == John, Ionică == Johnny

Mitch

That's it. That's the scheme. I haven't worked out the details yet.

Ionicã Bizãu

15:41

@Mr.ShinyandNew安宇 Cool... I already created a GitHub organization for that.

Mitch

@MattЭллен I'm sorta flattered but I'm also sorta uncomfortable, because that's a lot of Nutella. I'm feeling a little queasy. Excuse ... for a moment.. I just have to... rushes from room.

Jasper Loy

@Mitch Nutella is too rich for me.

:16104322 He replied 2 hours after you posted it.

Robusto

Sorry, brain cramp.

And shut up, Jasper, I have you on ignore, remember?

Jasper Loy

15:57

OK OK, lol.

Robusto

You'd better not be LOL'ing me.

Jasper Loy

I forgive you this time.

Robusto

. . .

Jasper Loy

Election begins in 4 hours.

I think I will vote for Andrew Leach, medica, and Mr Hen.

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

16:23

Oh dear.

Matt Эллен

16:38

@Mitch 1. everyone gets a pony 2. ?? 3. profit

Robusto

How much is a pony in bitcoin?

Also, how did I do on guessing what Jasper was saying to me?

Matt Эллен

ponies in bitcoin?

Robusto

> 404. That’s an error. The requested URL /q?ponies= was not found on this server. That’s all we know.

Matt Эллен

@Robusto yeah, google doesn't know the pony to bitcoin ratio

@Robusto pretty good

Robusto

@MattЭллен If Google doesn't know, I guess we'll have to ask the NSA.

Of course, the NSA may consider the pony/bitcoin ratio a state secret.

KitFox

16:48

Join.

*moin.

Stupid cupertinos.

I'm in the car with my eldest on our way to the library a couple of days ago. He's thinking, as he often does, and after a while he says, very thoughtfully, "Mommy, I know what the 's word' is."

Matt Эллен

:-o

KitFox

"Oh," I said, "Did you want to tell me what it is?"

He boggles a moment. "It's OK for me to say it?"

"Oh sure," I said, "I mean, if you're just telling me what it is, that's OK."

He mulls this over for a while.

then he nods and says, "um, OK, it's sucks, right?"

"Well,

It's not something you want to say in front of your gramma. It's pretty inappropriate for school, but it's probably ok to say to your friends if you're talking about how you don't like something."

Matt Эллен

awww

@Robusto they're such a one trick bitcoin

KitFox

"Oh, so like breaking your arm sucks?"

Robusto

@MattЭллен That implies a 1:1 ratio, IMO.

However much a bitcoin is worth, that's how big a pony is.

Matt Эллен

16:56

:D

KitFox

"Yeah, like that."

Robusto

Ponies fluctuate wildly.

Matt Эллен

cover them in cheese and you have a traditional American dish

KitFox

he thinks about this, and just as we're pulling into the library parking lot, he says, "I know what the 'f word' is too."

Robusto

@MattЭллен But can you have seven-layer bitcoin ponies?

KitFox

16:58

That was the actual punch line.

Robusto

@KitFox That's pretty good. He has a future in comedy.

KitFox

I'm trying to teach him that there are no bad words, just inappropriate contexts.

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