pez: (Default)
Pez ([personal profile] pez) wrote2004-12-02 10:42 am

Joy is writing up meeting minutes whilst listening to Suwabe Junichi <3

I think I finally understand the difference between porcupines and hedgehogs, and alligators and crocs. Thanks for the link =D

I still have other questions... this time about English. ^^"

1) "It isn't" and "It's not"... interchangeable I suppose? Only depends on what you're trying to emphasise...? I'm assuming the first is emphasising the thing, and the second one emphasising the NOT...?

2) What's the difference between "it might" and "it may"?

3) What's the difference between "to lie down" and "to lay down"?

I guess I'm being bit stupid, but it's better to ask and appear stupid than to not know and be stupid forever ^^"""

[edit] Jirou fic = sappidy sappidy sap. Not the obvious sort, but still enough sap to drown. Oooh how I missed the feeling of writing sap XD

These are just how I understand things

[identity profile] verily.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:12 am (UTC)(link)
1) it's more of a tense thing. "It isn't" is more like saying that the thing isn't something or another. While "It's not" is more like saying things as a whole. *shrugs* least that's my take on it.

2) Present and past tense. "It might" speaks of a different time frame than "it may" Also of a likely hood of happening. "it might" has a lesser chance of happening than "it may"

3) Same as 2. tense. Though I never understood which was which.

Re: These are just how I understand things

[identity profile] yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
3) But I thought there is... "to lay down" and "to lie down" (both present tense), and then there's "laid down" and "lied down" (both past tense)...? @_@

*jumps in the middle*

[identity profile] pyroh.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:32 am (UTC)(link)
I suck at explaining stuff (I'd probably confuse myself just trying ^^; ) so I cheated and looked it up-- http://www.grammartips.homestead.com/lie.html :D

Re: *jumps in the middle*

[identity profile] yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
:O

*prints the page out*

Thanks =D

Re: *jumps in the middle*

[identity profile] pyroh.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:40 am (UTC)(link)
No problem ^^

Re: These are just how I understand things

[identity profile] verily.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
Well... I think "to lay down" is a little more for furture reference. Like, later on. And "to lie down" means you're doing it at this moment.

Re: These are just how I understand things

[identity profile] ex-semishade366.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't say "lied down" for past tense.

Re: These are just how I understand things

[identity profile] yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:42 am (UTC)(link)
XD Yeah I just found out... luckily so far I think I've only ever used "laid down" because it sounded.... prettier ^^"""

I really need a good book on English grammar and stuff ^^"

[identity profile] ex-semishade366.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
All the things I don't know about my own language...

Re (2) I think of "it may" as being more definite than "it might" and it has a legal usage in the sense of giving someone permission.

And (3) I wonder if "lay down" requires an object (?) as in "I lay me down to sleep".