Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Every other variety of English (British, Australian, Indian, etc) appears to get along very nicely without it  . There are really VERY few circumstances in which it's necessary to be able to distinguish, and, if you do, there are ways around it. It's interesting that US English has come up with this, especially given the fact that "you" actually IS plural in the first place. |
Every version of every language has its distinctives so no surprise there. In US English you is sorta treated as plural for grammar but only means one person so you say....
You were a clown
instead of
You was a clown
You is a singular person, but uses the plural verb. Note there is no "s" on clowns...
They were clowns
He was a clown
It is just irregular in that regard.