2007-01-13 09:24:55 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
look it up in the dictionary!
seriously do it
2007-01-13 09:31:04 · answer #1 · answered by ♥will♥skate♥4♥life♥ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Speaking as a Southerner:
Those in the South recognized that English was lacking compared to most languages - it did not have a differentiation between you singular and you plural. Naturally, inventive Southerners solved this problem by devising the plural form 'you all'. However, this still did not cover all instances. Perhaps an illustration will help show the next logical evolution.
Let's say a passle of Yankees has come down here bird hunting. Let's say there are five of them. These Yankees venture onto a farmer's posted bird hunting land and the farmer encounters them. Naturally, he questions their presence. Two of the Yankess are doing all the talking, trying to explain how they just missed seeing the 'No Hunting' signs. During the conversation, the farmer will address the two of them in the 'you all' form, that being the correct second person plural. Now let's assume discussions reach an impasse. The farmer will then use the second person inclusive plural. He will say:"All you all get off my land." That indicates that he is not just talking to the two he has been addressing as 'you all', he is talking to all five of them.
This is not strictly the plural of 'you all', but it performs that function in that it always includes a larger number of individuals than 'you all' alone. This is a logical extension of the language, and any grammarian worth a hoot and a holler will recognize this and espouse its usage.
2007-01-13 11:32:34 · answer #2 · answered by dollhaus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol! if you live in the south- i am from the south- some people actually say y'alls or y'all-es. However, y'all IS the plural for you all or all of you so there is really no plural. it's just funny how some people will take it to the extreme-- y'alls!!
2007-01-13 09:35:46 · answer #3 · answered by Wild Honey 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Y'all IS the plural form. You-all.
Quick History of the English Language lesson:
2nd person singular was thee/ye. Second person plural was thou/you. There was some confusion about spelling since the runes look awfully similar in Old English for the "th" and "y" sounds. There was also another "th" for the th sound at the beginning of "this" or "those".
Thee/ye fell out of use. "You" was pressed into service as both singular and plural (it was originally only plural.) Technically, it's still plural, but most people balk at having one word for both singular and plural. So, they use "you" for singular, and "y'all" for plural. Or "you guys," "you-uns", "youse"...varies by region.
Thus ends the lesson.
2007-01-13 09:31:47 · answer #4 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Y'all IS plural.
2007-01-13 09:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought it was a plural
2007-01-13 10:44:39 · answer #6 · answered by Yo Mum Mum 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
y'all is the plural.
2007-01-13 09:33:19 · answer #7 · answered by Catspaw 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Y'all is you all, so the plural form would be We all or all of us, so W'all or All's depending on if you can get the extra letter or two out without collapsing.
2007-01-13 09:29:17 · answer #8 · answered by Flugs 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
allY all is plural and of course, Y all is singular. Let get it right
2015-12-02 11:36:11 · answer #9 · answered by Gary 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that's singular and plural...like the word "you" can be singular or plural..so y'all
2007-01-13 09:28:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ya'll is singular and plural. Amazing isn't it.
2007-01-13 09:32:10 · answer #11 · answered by The Pope 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋