Comments on: Used Transitively, “Avail” Is a Reflexive Verb

By: Maeve

Maeve — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:20:50 +0000

Farhat,
I just noticed your question of April 10.

The helping verb could is used with the infinitive form (without the “to”)
I could go with you.
I could not go with you.
They could remember their wives’ birthdays.

By: Gopakumar

Gopakumar — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:45 +0000

kindly be availed two days casual leave

By: Farhat Ayub

Farhat Ayub — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:27:16 +0000

What from of verb will be use with Could not.

By: Chris O'Brien

Chris O'Brien — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:09:32 +0000

I wanted to make mention of another common use of “avail” in an idiom: “to no avail,” as in
Gavin tried to persuade all the peeping baby chicks to convene inside his rucksack, but to no avail.
I thoroughly agree with your notes about the “old forms.” They are the proper forms; the others are simply linguistic bad habits. There are of course many other examples. However, many irregularities about English phrases are the result of similar habitual bad usage.
Incidentally, the phrase “long time no see” is a literal translation of the Chinese language greeting, and “passionfruit” is a rare back-transliteration of the Chinese name of the fruit, which sounds like “bye-shiang-gwoh.” “Chow Mein” is another example; it means simply “fried noodles.” I have more if you’re interested; I’ve lived in Taiwan for eleven years!
Best wishes.

By: Maeve

Maeve — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:52:30 +0000

Katherine,
I’ll be in the cell next to yours!