The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #102866   Message #2091948
Posted By: Bonecruncher
01-Jul-07 - 08:14 PM
Thread Name: BS: Why 'we'?
Subject: RE: BS: Why 'we'?
I believe that the story of Quenn Victoria's royal "We" is that, during a public engagement, a man from the crowd stepped forward and pointed a gun at her.
The response from the queen that "We are not amused" obviously referred to the official party, of which she as monarch was the senior member. She was obviously speaking on behalf of the group.
The use of the plural form "we" was, therefore, correct.

Unfortunately the useage of the singular and plural forms of address are today totally misunderstood.
How often do we the incorrect expression "Me and John went....."?
Would one say "Me went...."? No, one would say "I went...."
Therefore the correct expression is "John and I went....", always putting oneself last.

The result of a failure of teaching even the most elementary rules of language.

Colyn.