Actually good writing avoids the wordy and static “must have fallen” for simply, “Fell”. Present tense is much more direct and immediate.
He fell in a hole.
“There was an old man in St. Paul
Who died in a spring in the fall.
‘twould have been a sad thing,
if he’d died in the spring,
But he didn’t he died in the fall.”
Llewellenbruce almost 15 years ago
He must of fell in a hole.
Edcole1961 almost 15 years ago
If so, it would seem a waste of effort to get him out again.
vasaaaa almost 15 years ago
The word is fallen, not fell.
axe-grinder almost 15 years ago
vasaaaa said, The word is fallen, not fell.
I imagine Llewellenbruce was keeping in the spirit of Gasoline Alley in eschewing the grammatically proper “must have fallen”…
OldManMountain almost 15 years ago
Maybe Phyllis has become a revenant member of the Black Lantern Corps. http://tinyurl.com/BlackLanternCorps
alondra almost 15 years ago
And the story continues on Monday. Poor Mr. Walt has to wait two days for rescue and probably more the way they drag this out.
Charles Brobst Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Actually good writing avoids the wordy and static “must have fallen” for simply, “Fell”. Present tense is much more direct and immediate. He fell in a hole.
EarlWash almost 15 years ago
Oh, good grief. There you guys go again. One guy says beans and everybody flatulates.
Karl Hiller Premium Member almost 15 years ago
“Fell” is a direct declarative statement – the speaker is asserting a fact. “Must have fallen” is speculative – the speaker is suggesting a theory.
ocean17 almost 15 years ago
I do not like thee, Dr. Fell, Why that is, I cannot tell. But this I know, and know full well: I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
I’m not sure how to conjugate ‘flatulates’. I flatulate, you flatulate, he, she or it flatulates? I think I’ll just stick to ‘breaks wind’.
436rge almost 15 years ago
Good to be back. Was prevented the site since 10/30 until today.
Saucy1121 Premium Member almost 15 years ago
“There was an old man in St. Paul Who died in a spring in the fall. ‘twould have been a sad thing, if he’d died in the spring, But he didn’t he died in the fall.”
pbarnrob almost 15 years ago
Was it a Fell Spring, then? I’m vaguely recalling some descriptions from Lord of the Rings…
ocean17 almost 15 years ago
there was a young man in st. paul who had a hexahedronical ball.
dern, i fergit the rest…