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Grammar: 2 Questions...
1. I was always taught that it is proper English to say "the" prior to a word beginning with a consonant, for example, "The World."
But, that one should say "thee" when it comes before a word beginning with a vowel, for example, "Thee Earth."
I keep hearing many professional speakers (news people on both radio and TV as well as DJs) using "thee" prior to words beginning with consonants. I'd like to say that it's just to add empasis, but in many cases, it isn't adding empasis, it's simply utilzed mid-sentence.
Is this incorrect usage of "thee?"
2. Explain "can not" and "cannot." I was under the impression that proper spelling of this word is "cannot." But, recently, I have seen it spelled "can not." Is it a context or sentence structure rule that its spelling is based upon?
Re: Grammar: 2 Questions...
1. It took me a while to figure out you were referring to phoenetics and not the conjugated form of thou
I believe pronounciation of the has regional dialect variations. I'm from the upper midwest and I don't use the long vowel (thee) for any usage of the. We like our short vowel sounds in the Midwest. My understanding is rules for spoken language tend to be much looser than the written word to begin with, so I'm pretty sure it's all good either way.
2. From my quick google search, cannot is the preferred modern usage. However, the articles I found about it seem to imply can not isn't really wrong. It sounds like some people use can not for emphasis.
LD has the smart. This is all correct.
Cannot is sometimes used in situations when, if speaking, you would pronounce it as two different words. Ie, "You can not turn in the assignment if you want, but I would not recommend that course of action," vs. "Please don't gripe at me about failing; I cannot listen to another entitled freshman prattle on about his rights today."
I do? Is it Terminal???
To me it doesn't sound right to say the earth. Thee sounds better. I have never thought about it until just now.
Interesting.
No, but hopefully it's contagious.
So what you're saying is southerners like it long and hard, while Yankees like it soft and quick?