Timeline for How do I complete the sentence, "If you don't mind, ____"?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
8 events
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| Apr 21, 2020 at 12:37 | comment | added | Old Brixtonian | @JavaLatte As I said in my comment, it depends on where you live! "I need you to" is not yet popular in the UK. In your examples, only the one that doesn't use "I need you to" ("I need to stop off at the laundry") is commonly heard here. It was discussed here: (ell.stackexchange.com/questions/215614/…) | |
| Apr 21, 2020 at 3:31 | comment | added | JavaLatte | @OldBrixtonian: the acceptability of "need you to" depends on the circumstances, A genuine need is OK, emotional blackmail is not. See my answer. | |
| Mar 20, 2020 at 13:20 | comment | added | Old Brixtonian | @WXJ96163 You're welcome! Yes, that's what I meant. The verb to need is defined by Lexico as Require (something) because it is essential or very important rather than just desirable. "I need you to..." is therefore much stronger than "I'd like you to..." or "Please would/could you...", all of which we use before "...wash your face", "...pass me the salt" etc. We may need a doctor, we may need help, we may need water... but in the UK, "I need you to wash your face" feels somehow self-centred. | |
| Mar 20, 2020 at 12:22 | comment | added | WXJ96163 | @OldBrixtonian Thank you, that's very kind of you. "Mercifully" usually means "fortunately", does that indicate that "I need you to" has not yet become popular in the UK is fortunate? | |
| Mar 20, 2020 at 12:12 | comment | added | Old Brixtonian | @WXJ96163 To catch on means to become popular. There are examples if its use here. The expression "I need you to" has not yet become popular here. | |
| Mar 20, 2020 at 7:29 | comment | added | WXJ96163 | @OldBrixtonian What does "caught on" mean? | |
| Nov 11, 2019 at 12:09 | comment | added | Old Brixtonian | Mercifully "I need you to" has not yet caught on in the UK. | |
| Jun 10, 2019 at 0:53 | history | answered | Edward Barnard | CC BY-SA 4.0 |