Comments on: O Second Person Singular, Where Art Thou? http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:11:50 -0500 hourly 1 By: Judith http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/comment-page-1/#comment-240470 Judith Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:31:29 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/#comment-240470 I found this explanation (in Wikipedia) for the use of 'thou' in the King James translation of the bible. "As William Tyndale translated the Bible into English in the early 1500s, he sought to preserve the singular and plural distinctions that he found in his Hebrew and Greek originals. " This makes sense to me especially when applied to God since Tyndale would have recognised that it is an important Christian concept that God is one not many. Thanks for listening. Judith I found this explanation (in Wikipedia) for the use of ‘thou’ in the King James translation of the bible.
“As William Tyndale translated the Bible into English in the early 1500s, he sought to preserve the singular and plural distinctions that he found in his Hebrew and Greek originals. ”
This makes sense to me especially when applied to God since Tyndale would have recognised that it is an important Christian concept that God is one not many.
Thanks for listening. Judith

]]> By: The Many Forms of the Verb TO BE http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/comment-page-1/#comment-989 The Many Forms of the Verb TO BE Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:18:44 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/#comment-989 [...] reading O Second Person Where Art Thou reader Bill G asks: How can I explain to my students why the singular “you” takes the plural [...] [...] reading O Second Person Where Art Thou reader Bill G asks: How can I explain to my students why the singular “you” takes the plural [...]

]]> By: Maeve http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/comment-page-1/#comment-978 Maeve Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:39:57 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/#comment-978 When plural "you" started being used as a polite singular, the verb "are" was part of the package. When singular "Thou art" dropped out to be replaced by "you are," <b>are</b> took on a singular meaning: "are" IS singular in the sentence "You are my only friend." In "You are my only friends," <b>are</b> is plural. The verb "to be" is complex. It deserves a post of its own. I'll get right on that. When plural “you” started being used as a polite singular, the verb “are” was part of the package.

When singular “Thou art” dropped out to be replaced by “you are,” are took on a singular meaning:

“are” IS singular in the sentence “You are my only friend.” In “You are my only friends,” are is plural.

The verb “to be” is complex. It deserves a post of its own. I’ll get right on that.

]]> By: Bill G http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/comment-page-1/#comment-976 Bill G Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:29:54 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/#comment-976 How can I explain to my students why the singular "you" takes the plural verb "are?" Is there something obvious I am missing? Even "thou" took "art." What is the history of this shift? How can I explain to my students why the singular “you” takes the plural verb “are?” Is there something obvious I am missing? Even “thou” took “art.” What is the history of this shift?

]]> By: Amy W. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/comment-page-1/#comment-925 Amy W. Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:46:48 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/o-second-person-singular-where-art-thou/#comment-925 Very interesting. That truly is all brand new information to me. Very interesting. That truly is all brand new information to me.

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