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From: "Lenderink, dr. E." <lenderin@natlab.research.philips.com>
Subject: Re: can an IAL really work?
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Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 12:48:43 GMT
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References: <853605030.2652@dejanews.com> <7fsp2ewb94.fsf@phoenix.cs.hku.hk> <elnaE6K1qE.3Cs@netcom.com> <331D188E.711C@scruznet.com> <elnaE6nDMu.LHq@netcom.com> <adinkin-ya023180001103972355450001@news.usa1.com>
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Aaron J. Dinkin wrote:
> 
> In article <elnaE6nDMu.LHq@netcom.com>, elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N
> America) wrote:
> 
> >Mike Wright <darwin@scruznet.com> writes in a recent posting (reference
> <331D188E.711C@scruznet.com>):
> >>
> >>Do you have a few examples of English grammar that is derived from
> >>French?
> >>

> >As already mentioned, the use of "to" in marking most infinitives,
> >following French use of "de" and "a".
> 
> I had this notion that OE used "to" in its gerund or something, but it's
> not borne out by the nearest book to me on the history of English.

Prepositions are used to mark the infinitive in all Scandinavian 
languages, as far as know. (Danish "at", Icelandic "adh",...) French 
influence here is possible, but not necessary.

> >Tendency to keep compound verb structures together. Germanic languages
> >cast some to the end of clauses.
> 
> If you say so

This is another thing which (I think) is most likely Scandinavian in 
origin. AFAIK, only Dutch and German throw the verb to the end of the 
sentence. The other Germanic languages keep their compound verbs 
together.
Example:
	I have bought a book
Du: 	Ik heb een boek gekocht 
(verb structure "heb gekocht"="have bought" split up, and second part 
moved to the end of the sentence)
Dan: 	Jeg har ko/bt en bog
(verb structure "har ko/bt" intact)

Egbert. 

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