Again and again we hear the phrase "The American people", "The British people", " The French people", "The Turkish people" etc. What's wrong in using "Americans", "French", "British", "Turks" etc.?
2006-11-20 23:38:40 · 13 answers · asked by j w 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It's actually the more correct phrase, surely. If you just say "The British" - you could be referring to the govenment, the army, the land-owners, etc. By saying "The British people", you are being specific in referring to the general populace.
2006-11-20 23:44:05 · answer #1 · answered by cuddles_gb 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm... funkysuze, you suggested that, ""The British" is grammitically incorrect" because "it does not specify the object "people"". Well, regardless of what grammar you subscribe to, 'people' wouldn't be an object. Objects come after verbs. There is no verb in this phrase. What you have in either case is a fairly simple noun phrase.
In 'The British people', 'the' is the determiner, or definite article, 'British' is a pre-modifying adjective, and 'people' is the head-noun.
In 'The British', 'the' again is the determiner, or definite article, and 'British' is now the head-noun. Ergo, 'The British' is a grammatically complete and viable noun phrase.
And I think Dan P summarised the difference pretty well.
2006-11-21 08:47:31 · answer #2 · answered by Chilli 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably because there are American people, British people etc. all over the world not just in their country of origin. But you're right it doesn't make much sense!
2006-11-21 07:43:57 · answer #3 · answered by Tyara 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "people" is the body of people who make up the country aside from seperate from the political ruling classes. So when refering to the "British", it refers to the government as well - whereas the "British people" can tell the government to get stuffed.
2006-11-21 07:49:40 · answer #4 · answered by Mudkips 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When 'people' is refered to it means the people living in that country. Whereas, 'Americans' simply implies all the Americans around the world (and in space).
2006-11-21 07:43:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's the matter???
The only that is bad used is ."the american people", because it is related to pple of the 3 americas...not only to the ones from 1 country as pple from USA use to do.
2006-11-21 07:44:44 · answer #6 · answered by حلاَمبرا hallambra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The British" is grammitically incorrect as it does not specify the object "people" so could be the british (fish) etc
To say "he is British" or "he is a Briton" is grammatically correct.
2006-11-21 07:51:43 · answer #7 · answered by funkysuze 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's just an accepted form of politician-speak.
2006-11-21 07:49:01 · answer #8 · answered by voodoobluesman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its just a way of explaining people from different nations. Is it offensive?
2006-11-21 07:42:44 · answer #9 · answered by Rich T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a more formal mode of address
2006-11-21 07:47:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋