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Joined: Mar 2008
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10 |
Hi,
Can any one let me know what "Do you have anything to eat?" refers to? Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Ilango.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Dunno about what it refers to, but it could be a request for food by someone unable to feed themself or an expression of concern for someone who appears to be hungry and possibly not able to feed themself.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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dalehileman
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I think we recently had a long thread about this gender-singular-plural- related issue. Hisself , herself, itsself themself.. uh-ves???
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Many people have asked that question. It's a very common question. I ask it almost daily when someone leaves my house to go somewhere a bit far.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Yeah. [T]hemself. It's singular. You wouldn't say yourselves with a singular you; why would you say themselves with a singular they?
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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huh. I found this in the [online] Compact OED:
themself
• pronoun third person sing. informal used instead of ‘himself’ or ‘herself’ to refer to a person of unspecified sex.
— USAGE The standard reflexive form corresponding to they and them is themselves, as in they can do it themselves. The singular form themself, first recorded in the 14th century, has re-emerged in recent years to correspond to the singular gender-neutral use of they, as in this is the first step in helping someone to help themself. It is not generally accepted as good English, however. [EA]
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
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Back to the original question:
Can you give us the context of the question please, Ilango?
And Brannie, is that a standard line to say when someone leaves (like God be with you) or are you checking to see if they got their lunch out of the fridge?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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As (good you asked for it), we have no context for this sentence it also could mean this ordinary, hundreds of times repeted prove of care when f.i. a child takes off for a day of sports.
Yes, a basic way of caring.
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