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From: Chris Croughton <chris@keristor.net>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
Subject: I like it much
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 11:33:27 +0000
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The phrase "I like it much" is incorrect (British) English. Why? "I
like it very much" is correct, as is "I don't like it much". Why does
'much' seem to require a qualifier (and/or negation)?
I was reminded of it by an American pop song which has the phrase "I do
love you much", it grates on the British ear (although it may be valid
colloquial American, I'd be glad to hear whether Americans find it the
same as I do), but analysing it I can't see why it is invalid. I've
heard people try to turn it into an adverb, as "I like it muchly", and
for some reason that grates less, is the reason to do with it being in
the place of an adverb when used on its own but not when used with a
modifier? Although the negative forms seem to not use it that way:
I like it much (more correctly "I like it a lot").
I don't (like it much) == I like it, but not a lot.
I don't like it => not at all.
(I'm complaining about English being inconsistent? Next I'll be
complaining about it raining <g>...)
Chris C
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