Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Navid]

Hello
One of my student has asked me this question, I dont know this sentence has a good meaning or not.
Please if its meaning is good, write it for me.

He saw this sentence in a film.
" God has pety on you!"
or
"gods have pety on you!"

Thank you in advance.

[bud]

Navid, it was either "God have pity on you!" or "God has pity on you." The first sentence is more likely what was said, as it is a common expression.

[May] God have pity on you - This is the grammar of a command (the imperative form???) and is why 'have' (and not 'has') is used. But we don't give commands to God, so think of it more as a wish or a prayer. 'May' is optional, but is implied if not actually said. It is appropriate for a situation where someone is in great danger, or needs a lot of help, but to give help is impossible.

It is also used as an insult. For example, you might say it to someone who is very mean. It is a way of saying that he is going to need God's pity.

Hope that helps!

[Navid]

Thanks for your answer,
Would you please tell me something about imparetive from???
I'm all ears.
Navid

[bud]

I'm not a teacher of grammar and don't know a lot about it, Navid, but the imperative is the grammar we use when we make a command. Ex: "Navid, please open the window." Most often, the imperative assumes the second person singular because the speaker is giving a command directly to the person he expects to act on it.

In your original example, "God have pity on you," I was trying to point out why it is 'have,' and not 'has.' I think, but don't know for sure, that it is because this uses the imperative form.

Hope that helps.