Tag: dative

February 11, 2015

Why Is It “Woe Is Me”?

I recently received an email asking about the expression woe is me, namely what the plural would be and why it’s not woe am I. Though the phrase may strike modern speakers as bizarre if not downright ungrammatical, there’s actually a fairly straightforward explanation: it’s an archaic dative expression. Strange as it may seem, the […]

Grammar, Usage 25 Replies to “Why Is It “Woe Is Me”?”

February 21, 2012

Here’s You a Benefactive Dative

Yesterday I heard an interesting construction that I’ve only heard of once before. Several months ago a coworker of mine was talking about a family reunion she’d been to, at which one of her cousins had offered her an apple and said, “Here’s you an apple.” I’d never heard anything like it before, but I’d […]

Grammar, Varieties of English 18 Replies to “Here’s You a Benefactive Dative”

Arrant Pedantry

Tag: dative

Why Is It “Woe Is Me”?

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Here’s You a Benefactive Dative

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Tag: dative

Why Is It “Woe Is Me”?

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Here’s You a Benefactive Dative

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