Hey Grammar Nazis: How about "Thank you?"

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SaltBoy

SaltBoy

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
8,975
11
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I was just thinking - if we say "Thank You" to somebody, are we actually telling them to thank themselves?

"I Thank You" makes sense, but "Thank You" by itself seems more like an order from than an action on the part of the person who says it.

Thoughts? :confused:
 
dullard

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,742
4,265
126
Sentences without subjects can be either a command (implied "you") or an exclamation. Look at the next sentence:

"Fire!"

That sentence is acceptable in Engligh use. There is neither a subject, nor a verb. We don't say, "I see a fire!" Both the subject "I" and the verb "see" are implied in that example.

Exclamations are any abrupt and excited sentence. Often when someone truely helps you and you are truely happy, you are excited that your problem is solved. And the sentence "Thank you!" is certainly abrupt. So I think it works with an exclamation point and without violating any grammar rules.
 
LordMaul

LordMaul

Lifer
Nov 16, 2000
15,168
1
0
BTW, OP: Your title is incorrect. It should be like so:

Hey Grammar Nazis: How about "Thank you"?
 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: dullard
Sentences without subjects can be either a command (implied "you") or an exclamation. Look at the next sentence:

"Fire!"

That sentence is acceptable in Engligh use. There is neither a subject, nor a verb. We don't say, "I see a fire!" Both the subject "I" and the verb "see" are implied in that example.

Exclamations are any abrupt and excited sentence. Often when someone truely helps you and you are truely happy, you are excited that your problem is solved. And the sentence "Thank you!" is certainly abrupt. So I think it works with an exclamation point and without violating any grammar rules.
Click to expand...

What about this one?
"Thank you for doing my laundry."
 
B

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
How about "Blow Me"?

As you know, I don't REALLY want you to BLOW ME, what I really want is something completely differant... ;)
 
D

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
1
0
The 'I' is implied, as with many other instances in the English language. For example: "John did not do as well on the test as I." This is perfectly correct, however 'did' is implied at the end of the sentence.
 
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