-
1 THEY, THEM
(3rd person pl. and dual forms): As the pronominal ending for “they”, Tolkien hesitated between -ltë and -ntë. For instance, a verb like “they do” is attested both as cariltë and carintë (VT49:16, 17). In one text, the ending -ltë is marked as archaic or poetic (VT49:17), but in other paradigms no such qualification occurs (VT49:51). The alternative form -nte- occurs in UT:317, with a second pronominal marker (-s “it”, denoting the object) following: Tiruvantes "they will keep it". General considerations of euphony may favour -ltë rather than -ntë (e.g. *quenteltë rather than *quententë for “they spoke” – in the past tense, many verbs end in -ntë even before any pronominal endings are supplied, like quentë “spoke” in this example). The ending -ltë (unlike -ntë) would also conform with the general system that the plural pronominal endings include the plural marker l (VT48:11). – In Tolkien’s early material, the ending -ltë appears as -lto instead (e.g. tulielto “they have come”, LT1:270). – A simple plural verb (with ending -r) can have “they” as its implied subject, as in the example quetir en “they still say” (PE17:167). – In the independent pronouns, distinct forms of may be used depending on whether “they, them” refers to living beings (persons, animals or even plants) or to non-living things or abstracts. The “personal” independent pronoun is te, which may have a long vowel when stressed (té, VT49:51). It is also attested in object position (laita te “bless them”, LotR:989 cf. Letters:308, VT43:20). It can receive case endings, e.g. dative ten (VT49:14; variant forms téna and tien, VT49:14, VT43:12, 21). As the “impersonal” they, them referring to non-living things, Tolkien in some sources used ta (VT43:20; 8, 9), but this apparently caused dissatisfaction because he also wanted ta to be the singular pronoun “that, it”. According to VT49:32, the form tai was introduced as the word for impersonal or inanimate “they, them” (in some places changed to te, apparently suggesting that Tolkien considered using te for both personal and impersonal “they/them”, abandoning the distinction). Another source (VT49:51) lists sa as the pl. impersonal form, but all other published sources use this pronoun for singular impersonal “it”, not pl. “they”. – The object “them” can also be expressed by the ending -t following another pronominal suffix (laituvalmet, “we shall bless [or praise] them", LotR:989 cf Letters:308). Presumably this ending -t makes no distinction between personal and impersonal forms. – Quenya also possesses special dual forms of “they, them”, used where only two persons or things are referred to (none of these pronouns distinguish between personal and impersonal forms). In VT49:16, the old ending for dual “they” is given as -stë (marked as archaic or poetic), but this would clash with the corresponding 2nd person ending. According to VT49:51, this ending was changed (also within the imaginary world) from -stë to -ttë, which seems the better alternative (*carittë, “the two of them do”). The independent dual pronoun is given as tú (ibid.) However, it may also be permissible to use te for “they, them” even where only two persons are involved (te is seemingly used with reference to Frodo and Sam in one of the examples above, laita te “bless them”). – Genitive forms, see THEIR; reflexive pronoun, see THEMSELVES.
См. также в других словарях:
Not Getting Any Better — Single by Innerpartysystem from the album Never Be Content Released July 4, 2011 Format Digital download … Wikipedia
not know any better — not know any ˈbetter idiom to behave badly, usually because you have not been taught the correct way to behave • Don t blame the children they don t know any better. Main entry: ↑knowidiom … Useful english dictionary
change the name and not the letter, change for the worse and not the better — Explained in William Henderson’s Notes on the Folk Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders (1866): ‘It is unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname begins with the same letter as her own’ (p. 26). 1853 Notes & Queries 1st… … Proverbs new dictionary
any — 1 / eni/ determiner, pronoun 1 used to refer to each one or all members of a group, saying it does not matter which: Any child who attempts to escape is beaten. | You can obtain a valuation from any accredited insurance valuer. | Any plan chosen… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
any — 1. use with singular or plural nouns. Any can be used with a singular or plural noun, or with an uncountable noun such as homework and happiness, to denote choice from three or more people or things (for choice from two, either is used): • The… … Modern English usage
better — bet|ter1 W1S1 [ˈbetə US ər] adj [: Old English; Origin: betera] 1.) [comparative of good] more useful, interesting, satisfactory, effective, suitable etc ≠ ↑worse ▪ Your stereo is better than mine. ▪ a better job with a better salary ▪ There must … Dictionary of contemporary English
better — bet|ter1 [ betər ] function word *** Better is the comparative form of good and well, and can be used in the following ways: as an adjective: a better method of teaching languages The weather is better today. as an adverb: Our opponents played… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
any — an|y [ eni ] function word, quantifier *** Any can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): It s a puzzle that any intelligent child could solve. (followed by a plural or uncountable noun): Are there … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
any */*/*/ — UK [ˈenɪ] / US adverb, determiner, pronoun Summary: Any can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): It s a puzzle that any intelligent child could solve. (followed by a plural or uncountable noun):… … English dictionary
better — 1 adjective (comparative of good) 1 more useful, interesting, satisfactory, effective, suitable etc: Your stereo is better than mine. | a better job with a better salary | It was one of the better Broadway shows I ve seen. | There must be a… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
any — 1) adv. (used with the comparative form of adjectives and with good) any better (I wonder if they can work any better); any good (I don t think that this wine is any good); any easier (that doesn t make my job any easier); any more difficult (do… … Combinatory dictionary
