Beau Peep Notice Board

Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Roger Kettle on March 07, 2012, 06:29:58 PM

Title: A very stupid word.
Post by: Roger Kettle on March 07, 2012, 06:29:58 PM
I was writing a script the other day which included the line "a long time ago" and it started me thinking.
Things can happen "a long time ago", things can happen "a short time ago" but nothing can happen just "ago". "I met my wife ago". "I saw that film ago". The word is completely dependent on being qualified by other words. What knd of word can't stand on its own two feet?
"Ago" is a very stupid word.
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Diane CBPFC on March 07, 2012, 06:45:57 PM
'ere, let me have ago
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Mince on March 07, 2012, 07:33:19 PM
Quote from: Roger Kettle on March 07, 2012, 06:29:58 PM
I was writing a script the other day which included the line "a long time ago" and it started me thinking.
Things can happen "a long time ago", things can happen "a short time ago" but nothing can happen just "ago". "I met my wife ago". "I saw that film ago". The word is completely dependent on being qualified by other words. What knd of word can't stand on its own two feet?
"Ago" is a very stupid word.

The next time people tell me I have to get out more, I will direct them to this post.
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Mince on March 07, 2012, 07:35:39 PM
Quote from: Mince on March 07, 2012, 07:33:19 PM
I met my wife ago.

I would hazard a guess that "ago" is an adjective that post-modifies "time" and means "in the past". Above you are trying to use "ago" to modify "met", which makes it an adverb, which is wrong.

Your sentence as it stands means "I met my past wife."
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Vulture on March 07, 2012, 07:40:36 PM
Quote from: Mince on March 07, 2012, 07:33:19 PM

The next time people tell me I have to get out more, I will direct them to this post.

To get out 'more' assumes that you get out 'some'..... when?
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Mince on March 07, 2012, 07:49:50 PM
I am writing this while sitting on the Empire State Building with Penelope Cruz sitting on me.
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Vulture on March 07, 2012, 08:15:02 PM
What happened to Michelle?
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: The Peepmaster on March 07, 2012, 08:56:43 PM
Quote from: Vulture on March 07, 2012, 08:15:02 PM
What happened to Michelle?

...said the homeless snail.
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Roger Kettle on March 07, 2012, 09:02:00 PM
Quote from: Mince on March 07, 2012, 07:49:50 PM
I am writing this while sitting on the Empire State Building with Penelope Cruz sitting on me.
And this was when ago?
Title: Re: A very stupid word.
Post by: Diane CBPFC on March 09, 2012, 04:56:30 PM
Quote from: Mince on March 07, 2012, 07:49:50 PM
I am writing this while sitting on the Empire State Building with Penelope Cruz sitting on me.

It is a shame when they don't put out enough chairs when you pay all that money to get into a tourist attraction.