Hi

I've been having a discussion with Dee over the last couple of days about the use of the verb 'went'.

I'd used a phrase in a chapter I have just posted along the lines of 'He went to get up ... ' and the discussion has been about whether this is a common use of 'went' or is it less than common, somewhat regionalised, perhaps? And, indeed, I suppose there is also the question of whether it is a legitimate use of the word.

Any thoughts?

jumbo



<Added>

It might help - it might not - to add that I am from Lodon and Dee is from Yorkshire and Humberside. :)

Jumbo
I don't know whether this is common or regional but I'd probably choose 'he made to get up' because it avoids the awkward near-rhyme of 'went...get'. On the other hand, the near-rhyme and the alliteration of 'went...get' perhaps created a kind of smoothness so that the sentence flows. If you wanted to create the effect of an interrupted intention (he shows signs of being about to get up but doesn't for some reason) you might prefer to avoid smoothness. I'd say anything is legitimate if it serves its purpose and doesn't detract from the effect you want.

I think I'm babbling so I'll stop

Naomi

I think I'd agree with Naomi, at least in the context of 'get up', where there isn't a 'going' feel to the verb. I'd write, 'he made to get up', but only if he didn't succeed or was interrupted. Quite a colloquial use, though: 'tried' or 'started' would be more formal versions, I suppose.

I'd happily write, 'he went to get himself a cup of tea but bought a biscuit instead', though, where he actually does some going.

I don't know if it's a regional use or not - I'm a Londoner, if we're counting votes.

Emma

To me, ‘went’ means to go somewhere, as in he went to work, or to become, as in he went pale.

I've never before seen it used in this way… he went to speak, meaning he was about to speak.

I'm not suggesting for one minute that Jumbo is wrong to use the word in this way, I just don’t remember ever seeing it before.

Dee

... and, of course, I didn't intend to suggest that either Dee or myself were digging our heels in over this and stating - categorically - that the other was mistaken (how polite!)

I was more interested in how widespread the use of this expression was (or is).

[I'll put the shovel down now - and try to dislodge my foot from between my teeth!!]

jumbo

I've seen or heard went as in "he went to get up" - if it fits the context, why not?

I'm a southern northerner so no help there as to regionaL context!

Sarah

No, me neither, Jumbles.

x

Thanks, Dee

... and, of course, thanks to everyone else who has joined in this discussion

jumbo

I'm a Londoner and 'went to,'as in the phrase 'went to get up,' feels quite natural and familiar but I don't feel it belongs to colloquial spoken language, more that it's what you might find in some kinds of popular literature. I can't think how to back this up with examples though.
Naomi

Naomi, yes, I was struggling to pin down what my sense of it is, and I think you're spot on.

Emma

Pancho (sidekick of the Cisco Kid) used to say "Let's went!" when trouble was a-brewin'

Jim

Ah!!... that'll be where I got it from, then!

Thanls, Jim.

<Added>

...or even Thanks, Jim ;)

Hi,

I don't think it is regional, I have heard people use it in that context but I'm not sure it sounds right. I would have said he was about to get up when...

I agree that went is used more for he went to work she went to the shops etc.

But use it if you like the sound of it. I dont think it is wrong, at the end of the day, it's how it sounds to you, if you like it - keep it in, if you're not sure, use something else.

Kat

I've heard it used in the way Jumbo states many, many times here in the Fens.

he went to hit me, but someone grabbed his arm - for instance.

I've heard 'went' used in this way many times and, funnily enough, I seem to remember it was when I lived in Yorkshire -but I'm not 100% on that. I do think it is a colloquialism though, and possibly best suited to dialogue, though I'm always eternally grateful that the 'rules' of the language have never been officially laid down.

Cheers

Harry