silversolitaire: (eh?)
[personal profile] silversolitaire
My dad brought home a test they're having people take at his base. I need you guys to give me your opinion on this.




Q: "Do you know your way around this department?"

A: "Well, I should do. By the end of the month I ..... working here for a whole year, you know."

A) have been.
B) 'll have been.
C) 'll be.


[Poll #1131412]

To me "I should do" sounds absolutely totally wrong. I've asked other people and most are with me, but one Brit said it sounds okay. I'm confused now and would like to know what you guys think about this. This test is meant to test people's feeling for the language. Pretty much like the TOEFL (test of English as a foreign language). I find it a bit disconcerting if it's not 100% correct in its own questions!

Date: 2008-02-01 07:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wednesdayschild.livejournal.com
'I should do' sounds totally fine to me! It's a phrase that lots of people I know use (myself included).

Date: 2008-02-01 07:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elance.livejournal.com
'I should do' is British slang/informal speech, it's not totally wrong if that's what you're going for.

Date: 2008-02-01 07:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/
That sounds really weird to me. Some people might say it (though I've never heard it), but I don't see how it could be gramatically correct.

Date: 2008-02-01 07:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pigglet27.livejournal.com
I said "I should do" was wrong, but in reality it depends on context. In and of itself, I would never say "I should do." as a complete sentence without some other addition such as "I should do that."

I does strike me as a "Brit"thing to say, so I don't know. :-)

Date: 2008-02-01 08:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darth-revich.livejournal.com
It sounds so stupid. I can't imagine it being said by someone educated.

Date: 2008-02-01 09:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] timbershiver.livejournal.com
I think 'I should do' is very British. It's usually preceded by a slightly sarcastic, "Well,..."
It's sort of self-deprecating: "If I don't know my way away around by now, I'm a total moron."

Date: 2008-02-02 07:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daasgrrl.livejournal.com
IAWTC. Australians use it too, but I think of it as somethng very typically British.

Date: 2008-02-02 11:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silversolitaire.livejournal.com
Yes, by now I've reached that conclusion too! *g* Thanks!

Date: 2008-02-02 11:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silversolitaire.livejournal.com
LOL... sarcasm in an official Army test... haha. Thanks!

Date: 2008-02-02 11:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silversolitaire.livejournal.com
Yes, I had the same feeling, but looks like Brits say it quite a lot! O.o

Date: 2008-02-02 11:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silversolitaire.livejournal.com
Yes, looks like it's British... so weird! LOL

Date: 2008-02-03 12:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silversolitaire.livejournal.com
Thanks! That clears up a lot!

Date: 2008-02-03 12:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] timbershiver.livejournal.com
hah hah! I missed that bit and just went straight to the poll!

Well, I'm sure the Army needs MOAR SARKAZM!!!

It's a fantastic weapon in the War Against Terrorisizem!

Date: 2008-02-03 12:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] timbershiver.livejournal.com
HEY! WE INVENTED OXFORD!

Date: 2008-02-03 07:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lilka.livejournal.com
'I should do' is British. I think 'I ought to' would fall into the same category.

Date: 2008-02-03 08:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmazzy.livejournal.com
it sounds fine to me, but yes there is a hint of sarcasm.

Date: 2008-02-08 03:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darth-revich.livejournal.com
Well, native speakers often make mistakes.

Date: 2008-03-29 07:24 am (UTC)
ext_17954: (Default)
From: [identity profile] cayendi.livejournal.com
here via via (can't even remember where from)

I don't see anything wrong with 'I should do'

Date: 2008-03-29 10:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silversolitaire.livejournal.com
By the looks of your profile it was probably something Torchwood related! ^^;

And okay! By now I've reached the conclusion that half of the globe seems to think "I should do" is weird and the other that it's okay.

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