Please Don’t Say That!

Well, I already got the “myself”-used-everywhere-incorrectly off my chest a few weeks ago…and the drug used-as-a-past- tense of drag. But there are more.

Less and fewer is still an issue, even with the people who get paid to talk on television, but sometimes they get it right. Even the express lanes in the grocery store are beginning to get it right.

But…..what’s with have went? I hear it everywhere — from friends to, once again, people who get paid to talk on television. I have went, I should have went.…NO please stop! Go is one of those irregular verbs that has three different forms: go, went, have gone. I go, I went, I have gone. 

Other irregular verbs also cause problems. I have ate is a common one. This is said by those who are very educated and make a lot more money than I do (even though I am very educated!). I have swam is a common one, and sometimes you can’t even convince people there is such a word as swum! Same with drink, drank, have drunk. It isn’t have drank.

Let’s see…are there more? When I was a kid, lots of people I knew said I seen instead of I saw. It drove me nuts, and I still hear it today.

And more…

I have drove? (driven)

I have rang? (rung)

I swang? (swung)

I have wrote? (written)

I have boughten? (bought)

I brang? (brought)

As I scream into the night……