Grammar Question: At Paul Mason.....

Which is it?


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Oh, boy, a grammar question for the grammar tutor!

You rang?

Before we expend any further intellectual energy to dissect this issue of global importance, let us remind ourselves that the late Mr. Welles was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin.


Though often misinterpreted, the message that the ad was attemping to present was that Paul Masson—and anyone else for that matter, specifically but not exclusively limited to those employed in the retail sale of alchoholic beverages—will sell no **** before it is time, a policy derived out of a stringent respect of the particular State and locally-established laws regarding the sale of said beverages. It would simply be bad for business if the local gendarme would happen to stroll into the corner convienence store around 10 am on a Sunday morning and witness the exchange of a few crumpled bills or food stamps for a quart flask of "Paulie Boy" being shuttled underneath the counter in a greasy brown paper bag.

:)
 
As several have noted above, the presence or absence of the apostrophe determines whether the "it" refers to the **** of the time. However, since we, as viewers, only hear the spoken words, and we haven't actually seen the script, we don't know for sure whether there is an apostrophe. The originator of this thread has stacked the deck in favor of "the ****" by leaving out the apostrophe.

Personally, that's the way I've always interpreted it anyhow. It never even occurred to me that the "it" could refer to time, and when I first read the question, I didn't understand, until I realized that the statement could be interpreted homonymously with an apostrophe. But really, it sounds pretty stupid that way. Very unsophisticated: "Hey, Joe, it's time to sell the ****." Compare that with, "Joseph, the **** has reached its time. We must sell it now." The first interpretation is not consistent with the cultured, pompous vocal quality of the speaker in the commercial or with the commercial's implied snob-appeal. So I will go unequivocally with "the ****."
 
As several have noted above, the presence or absence of the apostrophe determines whether the "it" refers to the **** of the time. However, since we, as viewers, only hear the spoken words, and we haven't actually seen the script, we don't know for sure whether there is an apostrophe. The originator of this thread has stacked the deck in favor of "the ****" by leaving out the apostrophe.

Personally, that's the way I've always interpreted it anyhow. It never even occurred to me that the "it" could refer to time, and when I first read the question, I didn't understand, until I realized that the statement could be interpreted homonymously with an apostrophe. But really, it sounds pretty stupid that way. Very unsophisticated: "Hey, Joe, it's time to sell the ****." Compare that with, "Joseph, the **** has reached its time. We must sell it now." The first interpretation is not consistent with the cultured, pompous vocal quality of the speaker in the commercial or with the commercial's implied snob-appeal. So I will go unequivocally with "the ****."


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Interesting point, however:

"Hey Joe, where you goin' with that bottle o' **** (which maybe or maybe is not before its [sic] time) in your hand?

and the answer...

"Gonna have a *****, thanks to my just-declared ex-old lady, now that I've found her messin' around with some Paul named 'Masson'"



Your comments, please...






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I got it.
*** and Jag were right.

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No apostrophe after the T in "its".
Hopefully now I can stop having those nightmares.



The French, NOOOOOOO!
 
That **** is ****, just like most of the whine in this thread. Mine included.

Meh...I'll give your punography a 6.5. Pun shouldn't appear to be ****** and in search of humor or else it's just not punny.:******:
 
Meh...I'll give your punography a 6.5. Pun shouldn't appear to be ****** and in search of humor or else it's just not punny.:******:

1. punography
A word to describe the cutesy names given to retail establishments that generally have a highly specialized good or service.
Bill drove by the new strip center and noticed the hair salon, "A Cut Above," the Italian restaurant, "When In Rome," the pet store, "Paws R Us," and the opthamologist's office, "Here's Looking at You!"
"I **** all this damn punography," he said with disgust and drove away
 
1. punography
A word to describe the cutesy names given to retail establishments that generally have a highly specialized good or service.
Bill drove by the new strip center and noticed the hair salon, "A Cut Above," the Italian restaurant, "When In Rome," the pet store, "Paws R Us," and the opthamologist's office, "Here's Looking at You!"
"I **** all this damn punography," he said with disgust and drove away

:confused: Are you trying to be punny again? (Hint: If you are, no one should need to ask..:2 cents:)
 
Its me of those things that just by hearing it you can't tell, you gotta read it to be sure.

like - A&E, its/it's time, well, spent.

Is WELL an adjective, adverb or a connecter/interjection?

We just don't know!
 
Its me of those things that just by hearing it you can't tell, you gotta read it to be sure.

like - A&E, its/it's time, well, spent.

Seriously m/p..how soon can we get you on a plane and heading back to those choco latinas you crave so much in Colombia??

You have too much time on your hands...We need to get you back down there and keep the counter going on your effort to break 'The Stilt's pokemon record.

I realize you are probably investigating this as part of your work but man!!:o
 
the pronoun "its" refers back to the closest previous noun, in this case, "****."
 
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