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Laurie Hertzel's avatar

Now write about "after" and the Irish. ("I'm after going to the store for my messages...")

Ben Yagoda's avatar

I wasn't aware of it! The Yale Grammatical Diversity Project covers it pretty well, including quoting an Irish footballer who said, "If you said to me last year, I'd be after having the year I'm after having, I would have laughed at you basically." https://ygdp.yale.edu/phenomena/after-perfects#interactive

Laurie Hertzel's avatar

i think it's related to the Gaelic language--something that moved from Gaelic to Irish English. i love it, though. i'll check that post. thank you!

Elisa M. Speranza's avatar

Here in New Orleans, I was fascinated to hear locally-raised people use the term “use it.” A kid in a classroom would raise their hand to ask the teacher, “Can I use it?” or “I have to use it” to ask for a restroom hall pass.