Yes! I immediately thought of that interaction too! |
It might be a midwest thing but more OH and PA than say WI, IL or IA. |
Without to be, it is subjunctive. With to be, it is future imperfect continuous. OP isn't familiar with the subjunctive and needs a familiar tense to process the sentence. |
I work with people from Utah who do this. |
Where are the from? I know Californians who say they are going to “warsh the clothes” but that’s because they are Ohio transplants. |
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Not that it matters, this issue was discussed before.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/120/538110.page |
+1 |
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Sounds fine to me.
My English professor spouse uses it sometimes. Used in some groups and not others. Code switching. |
Yay to the linguist! I feel the same way. I LOVE the differences. Appalachia, for example, has some interesting sayings and pronunciations--even now! |
+1 Not a linguist, but I writer. I love this flavor! I’ve never heard this one before, though. |
Oh I see what you are saying. I also enjoy the construction I heard from someone in NC "Oh I used'ta could" meaning I used to be able to do something. |
| I lived in the Midwest and the South for years and never heard this. |
Dialects are dialects. It has nothing to do with "proper grammar." Lots of people speak in a dialect, but write correctly, or switch from dialect to snobby English depending on the crowd. |
| Linguist here- what about “might could”? Anyone use that, and for the grammar mavens, does that grate, too? As in, I might could go to the store (meaning, Maybe, I’m the future I might…”). |
I know a lot of Pittsburgh transplants in Utah. Westinghouse moved a ton of people back in the day. |