Re: Are "semi-creoles" widespread?

Darkstar wrote:
On Aug 29, 8:29 pm, Harlan Messinger
<hmessinger.removet...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Darkstar wrote:
On Aug 29, 5:13 pm, LEE Sau Dan <dan...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
"Darkstar" == Darkstar <darkstar...@xxxxxxxx> writes:
Darkstar> Now we seem to witness the loss of "to" in infinitives
Darkstar> as in "help do something" and the formation of "wanna",
Darkstar> "gonna", "gotta" as new standard verbs and their gradual
Darkstar> infiltration into the written speech,
If "wanna" etc. are full verbs, what are their past tense form and
past participle? Can you form the present continuous tense from it?
> "Want" is not used in Progressive/Continuous in modern grammar.

Sure it is. "Always leave them wanting more." "His performance was
wanting." "I often find myself wanting to return to my hometown but I
can't afford the housing prices there." "Wanting to go is not the same
as having to go."

Consult a grammar textbook about the difference among the Gerund, the
ing-form, and the Progressive/Continuous Tense.

I understand the different *functions*. Funny, though, how in English they share one *form*.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Are "semi-creoles" widespread?
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  • Re: Are "semi-creoles" widespread?
    ... Darkstar> infiltration into the written speech, ... If "wanna" etc. are full verbs, what are their past tense form and ... "Always leave them wanting more." ...
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  • Re: Are "semi-creoles" widespread?
    ... If "wanna" etc. are full verbs, what are their past tense form and ... Can you form the present continuous tense from it? ... "I often find myself wanting to return to my hometown but I ... ing-form, and the Progressive/Continuous Tense. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Are "semi-creoles" widespread?
    ... Can you form the present continuous tense from it? ... "Always leave them wanting more." ... to search for bare progressives, such as those used in news headlines, ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Are "semi-creoles" widespread?
    ... Can you form the present continuous tense from it? ... "I often find myself wanting to return to my hometown but I ... to search for bare progressives, such as those used in news headlines, ...
    (sci.lang)
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