Friday, February 8, 2008

Conjugation

Overheard in passing between two girls.
The first girl was intent on telling the second girl a story in which she obviously thought an injustice had taken place,
"...and I was being-haved and she just....."

The phrase hit a sore note in my head and obviously in the friend's head, "being-haved?....being-haved?" The story was completely lost on the friend who was now stuck on the distorted phrase and was repeating it to herself in an attempt to set it straight in her own mind.

The first girl continued talking as she walked on, never hearing her friend stumbling over the distortion.

I could not help but be amused. Maybe I was just looking for something to make me smile but I laughed and thought that sounds like a mistake I might make.

How do you conjugate behave?
behave
being-haved
been-haved

Some words just sound like they can be twisted more than others and behave is one of them.
I always thought it a strange word but this use made it even stranger.

Oh, it was an English class in which the injustice took place.
My guess is that the girl was sleeping. I hope she is not taking the ACT tomorrow.

3 comments:

  1. I think you would say "I was behaving!" That reminds me of a conversation I overheard. A young woman was very upset over something that her companion had said or done and she was shaking her finger at her and yelling, "I just have 3 words for you! You better stay out of my business!!!"

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  2. My students and I often will say at moments like these, "who taught you to spoke?"

    Yes, I believe behaving is correct.

    And as you, Linda reminded me recently about the fellow who was giving directions and said, "Turn at the blue house that they painted white."

    Okay????

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  3. behave . . like to be good? to be obedient? I guess I missed what she was trying to convey.

    And I used to say "Fort- Taa" for forte.

    Duh-hoight!

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