Informal Use of Simple Forms of Adverbs

The adverb and its stylistic functions

Transpositions in use of voice forms

Transpositions in use of mood forms

Forms with Distinct Low Colloquial or Vulgar and Illiterate Connotations

(1) The Form ain't. It is a low colloquial contraction of "are not", used loosely for "am not"; “is not", "has not" and "have not". In G.Kirchner we find the foll­owing statement: "Although "ain't" is low colloquial, it is true nevertheless that many educated persons permit themselves this habit, even though they reprehend it as careless."

E.g.: Well, I'm doing it already, ain't I? Yes, ain't I a lucky man? I'm next, ain't I? The house ain't worth living in since you left it. Ope you ain't lettin' James put no foolish ideas into your head?

(2) The Low Colloquial AE Present Perfect. There is a very clear tendency to drop the auxiliary have (has), so that only the second participle remains.

E.g.: I been around to see her a coupla times....

(3) The Forms Has, Is, Was for the Plural: I hused to wonder you was let preach tall.

I.V.Arnold points out that not infrequently people use low colloquial not because they do not know any literary colloquial but just because their co-workers and play-mates say ain't, he don't, you was. In different circumstances they use the correct forms isn't, aren't, doesn't, weren't.

Transposition is not the only way to make verbs expressive. A good many verbal forms are expressive in themselves.

The imperative mood forms are not just commands, invitations, requests or prohibitions. They are a perfect means of rendering an abundance of human emotions. The sentence Just come to me now may contextually imply love or hate, threat or warning, promise or desire. A wide range of subjunctive mood forms offers a good stylistic choice of synonymous ways to verbalize one and the same idea. Compare the following synonymous pairs of sentences: It is time for me to go = It is time that I went; It is necessary for him to come = It is neces­sary that he come; We must go now not to be late = We must go now lest we be late; Let it be = So be it. The first sentence of each pair is stylistically neutral while the second sentence is either bookish or obsolescent.

In many contexts passive verbal forms are more expressive than their active counter-parts.

Compare: A round table occupied the centre of the room = The centre of the room was occupied by a round table; They answered him nothing = He was answered nothing; They forgave him his rudeness = H e was forgiven his rudeness.

A few adverbs of manner have variant forms — one simple and one in -ly. IE prefers the simple form: Well, now you know different, don't you? - Don't talk so loud! - Come quick!

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