--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > On second thought, I might be all wrong. I've always thought > > there's an ellipsis of the predicate verb, but it might > > not be the case after all. Beats me! > > > > The apostrphe-d is the verb. Stands for "would" or "had" in informal English. >
Yeah, but I gather both in "I had rather" and "I would rather" it's "only" an auxiliary verb. Of course "had" could also be the main verb. But it seems to me the main verb is "missing" in both cases. If "had" acted as a main verb, those idioms (with "had" and "would") wouldn't IMO be...hmm... analogous(?). To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
