Do you use the singular "we/our/us"? (Give us a kiss)

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bladefiddler@reddit

Like pretty much all northern responses here, I use and hear 'us' instead of 'me'. Never heard we/our used unironically outside perhaps royalty or aristocracy.

The different accents affecting the actual sounds are interesting though. I'm geordie, so like the Yorkshire commenter 'give us...' is usually contracted to 'giz' but even when not the S in us sounds more like a Z I.e. 'give iz a go'

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Competitive_Art_4480@reddit

You have never heard anyone use "our" for family?

Do you know our John?

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CoffeeandaTwix@reddit

That's not singular though... saying our kid or our John refers to the fact that he is part of our family.

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Competitive_Art_4480@reddit

Well yeah but in OPs own words they don't quite understand this use of pronouns.

I think you are taking the title s little too

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CoffeeandaTwix@reddit

Not really, it is a quite clear distinction.

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Competitive_Art_4480@reddit

"our" might be plural but it's in reference to a singular subject.

None of this matters though as although OP referenced singular pronouns I believe the Crux of the question was actually about non standard uses of pronouns. They even listed "our" as an example.

Is this really something you want to argue over?

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CoffeeandaTwix@reddit

No. The whole point is that the subject of the possessive pronoun 'our' is plural in all examples given.

The difference is that the subject of 'us' is often used dialectical in contexts where the subject is unambiguously singular. For example, there are only two people in a room and one says "Give us that glass of water". The water is clearly being requested for a single person and not on behalf of a wider group of people.

Arguing over these distinctions is the whole point of the thread... nobody would contribute if they didn't intend to do that...

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hedgeofthehogs@reddit

‘Our kid’ could mean our brother but could also mean my brother

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Competitive_Art_4480@reddit

If "our" is always plural and OP wanted singular then why did they give "our" as an example?

You don't think it is possible that they simply got this wrong?

I'd argue that both the "us" and "our" examples are dialectal and would be colloquially categorised similarly by most. Yes they are different things linguistically but both are slight use of pronoun deviations to standard English, which again I believe was what OP.was asking about.

Respectfully as an autistic lad, you are being far too literal with the title. You are technically right but imo, my contribution was absolutely relevant to the topic at hand. I really can't be arsed to continue this argument so we will have to agree to disagree.

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CoffeeandaTwix@reddit

If "our" is always plural and OP wanted singular then why did they give "our" as an example?

Because they are mistaken in including it as an example. This was exactly the point I was making.

I'd argue that both the "us" and "our" examples are dialectal

I'm agree with that and haven't disagreed with it in previous replies. The point I am disagreeing with is that they don't fall into the same category of using a plural pronoun with a singular subject.

Respectfully as an autistic lad, you are being far too literal with the title.

Respectfully, I will agree to disagree on what the point of the post was. I believe it is specifically to do with the dialectical use of plural pronouns for singular subjects; you believe it is rather more generally about the dialectical use of plural pronouns. Either interpretation is probably fair.

I would add that my replies weren't intended as a dig or in order to be overly pedantic but rather that the topic under discussion is a fairly nuanced one and therefore any discussion is going to be pedantic to an extent. That is just the nature of these linguistic topics.

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bladefiddler@reddit

Ah, actually yes you're right. I was thinking of the question in reference to self as opposed to collective or third party.

Again with the accent (mine being medium/heavy geordie, lightened for work etc) I'd say 'wor John' if talking to friends or 'my brother John' if talking to colleagues. 'Our John' would only be specifically when talking to mutual family.

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Antique_Ad_4347@reddit

I’m from north east too and I was wondering if you say ‘ket’ as a geordie to mean “sweets” as well or whether it was just a yakka thing ? That one has got me some funny looks down south …

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bladefiddler@reddit

I know it, but don't really use it. My mam used to use it more often.

It's very specific & increasingly rare though - not 'proper' sweets but the contents of 'mix-ups'. I suppose you could only really apply it to pick'n'mix now. Individual haribo items etc would count, but I'm not sure a full bag of the same thing counts.

Funny how times change. You'd have to be careful now, depending who you ask it might get you funny looks or a dubious zip-lok of powder!

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Doddsy2978@reddit

In English, at least British English, ‘Us’ is used as a synonym to ‘Me’. Now, I will be corrected here, but I believe this stems from and is more prevalent in the North East region of England, in the area that the Geordie accent is spoken.

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want_to_know615@reddit

No. That's you corrected.

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Doddsy2978@reddit

Well you could be a little more specific.

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want_to_know615@reddit

I mean it's not specifically a North East thing

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Doddsy2978@reddit

Ah! I didn’t think I said specifically! Just that I hear it, in my head, in a North-East accent. Half of my family hailed from the NE and the other from Brummie. I definitely heard it, more often, from the NE contingent, as in, “Are you going to give us a kiss?” From an aunt. The Midlands contingent tended to us ‘me’. Twas just my own experience I was describing.

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want_to_know615@reddit

To be honest I don't now about the Midlands and the South, but it's common across the whole North of England and Scotland.

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LobsterMountain4036@reddit

This is an example of colloquial expressions which are used typically in ways to make more casual the request.

That’s such an arsey way of putting it but I’m not actually sure what you’re asking or why exactly.

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Remarkable_Fun7662@reddit (OP)

Would you say this belongs in the same category as bringing up the "purple burglar alarm" thing with Scottish people, or "don't bring up the war"?

Because most responses don't indicate that so far, but there are a few that seem a bit touchy about an apparently innocent question about a quaint dialectical difference that has an obvious chance of causing confusion.

The reason I asked was because I was confused whether in a certain context whether the "us" was one of those "give us a kiss" things you noticed on British TV shows.

That got me thinking about it and thought hmm who could I ask what would be the place to do so.

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LobsterMountain4036@reddit

No, the ‘purple burglar alarm’ is because Scottish people get tongue tied. ‘Don’t mention the war’ is a dig at Germany.

Changing me to us just makes things seem more approachable even if grammatically wrong. It makes it less direct.

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Remarkable_Fun7662@reddit (OP)

So why did you get upset about the question

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LobsterMountain4036@reddit

I don’t think I did?

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Remarkable_Fun7662@reddit (OP)

I noticed people saying give us a kiss and wondered about it.

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Savings-Carpet-3682@reddit

Generally in the midland and north they say ‘giz’ which is a contraction of ‘give us’ when when they are talking about themselves singularly. So you say ‘giz a pint’ in a pub even if all of the pint is for you.

In Scotland and Newcastle they tend to say ‘geez’ which is the same thing except with different accent

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Shpander@reddit

It's a bit like saying "let's see" (let us see) when you mean "let me see"

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SixFtDitxh@reddit

From London and have always used "Giz us" "giz us a snout" = "May I please have a cigarette off of you"

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want_to_know615@reddit

Interesting. I thought it was regional, but maybe it's a social class thing too.

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RedditForCat@reddit

"The royal 'We'"

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want_to_know615@reddit

No, it's a totally different thing.

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Srapture@reddit

Nope. Ain't northern.

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CoffeeandaTwix@reddit

I use the singular 'us' naturally (but might change it to 'me' in a formal setting or when speaking to non-native English speakers.

I never use the singular 'our' and can't even think of any examples I've heard where it is actually used in British English (all of the examples in this thread are really plural e.g. 'our kid', 'our house' etc. which really imply possession of the speaker and their family or house mates.

I rarely use the singular 'we' but sometimes take the occaisional liberty where I speak on behalf of my partner. That is not really a true singular usage though.

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Taiga_Taiga@reddit

Yup. Manc here.

Give us a minute = wait a moment

Give us me coat = hand me my coat.

You coming up ours? = are you going to visit my home?

And, yes... Give us a smooch = kiss me.

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CoffeeandaTwix@reddit

I'm Manc also. I definitely use 'us' in the singular but the usage of ours there is not singular.

I would say are your coming round ours but that refers to the fact I don't live alone... if I lived in my own, I'd say are you coming round my gaff.

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Poetry-Designer@reddit

It’s the first choice

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platypuss1871@reddit

"Gissa job" - King Theoden.

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ButteredNun@reddit

Give us a bell later = Call me later

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iz_bit@reddit

TIL Gollum was just a Brit.

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Lopsided_Soup_3533@reddit

I mean Andy serkis is so technically true lol

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onlysigneduptoreply@reddit

Also Mi instead of My as in I'm having Mi dinner.

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Shellshock9393@reddit

Never heard anything like that, wth

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Dismal_Birthday7982@reddit

Deaf?

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Shellshock9393@reddit

That was a good one, crazy actually

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hiyou1234567@reddit

Lol

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furrycroissant@reddit

You've never heard "give us a hand" or "give us a ring"?

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Shellshock9393@reddit

Give me a hand sure Give me a ring never

I think mentioning that english is not my native language might be important here

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Fairly-ordinary-me@reddit

I say give us a kiss but my friend also says what are we having for us tea which I find quaint

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Imaginary-Ad7743@reddit

A kiss requires 2 people

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Kiss_It_Goodbyeee@reddit

Yes. Typically with "let's" which is short for "let us" even when I'm only referring to myself.

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Hugh_Jarce@reddit

Give we a kiss ?

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justnebbing@reddit

Me = my Us = me Our = w'

Lots of love from the North East

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Many-Increase5661@reddit

I think this is more of a north south divide case to me both are acceptable terms so give us a kiss and give me a kiss. It's the same thing I think it's more what ya learn growing up people always confuse English as posh ya know Downton abbey stuff but you go Yorkshire then language is completely different in a lot of ways to say London it's very much culture diversity for sure

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FaeriePrinceArbear@reddit

I’m in the East Midlands and was brought up saying/hearing “give us a hand” “give us a kiss before you go” ext ext. Also grew up with family friends being referred to as “our” as much if not more so than actual family - but we did see the family friends more.

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musicistabarista@reddit

"Us" is often used instead of "me" colloquially.

"We" is rarely used instead of "I" by poshos, the "royal we". Mainly heard used jokingly, but you do hear people use it unironically from time to time.

"Our" can be used as "my/mine", but it's more dialect (mainly in the north), and less widely used/understood than "us".

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Windcruising@reddit

Colloquially-speaking. I find that If you ask educated people questions you will need a dictionary to look the answer up

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Sufficient-Muscle-24@reddit

Im from yorkshire and we would likely say "giz a kiss"

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Forward_Raccoon_2348@reddit

Same in Newcastle here and parts of north east would

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swordfishcity@reddit

Essex lady here, "gis a kiss" is a common phrase in our family too

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Affectionate-Boot-12@reddit

Lesta born and bred, “giz a kiss” is standard.

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Indigo-Waterfall@reddit

Personally, no I dont use it. However, I understand when used in certain contexts that “us” can mean “me”. Especially in certain regional dialects.

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duskfinger67@reddit

There is also the singular “How are we doing” when asking just one person.

I think the singular plural is a thing.

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Appropriate-Bad-9379@reddit

Definitely in Lancashire…

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DazzlingClassic185@reddit

Yep. Sometimes shortened to giz (hard g)

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evilestfairy@reddit

“our kid ___” feels like home <3

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boojes@reddit

I'm in Southampton and I say "give us a..." to which my son always says "but there's only one of you!".

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Zealousideal_Tea4605@reddit

Yeah we use us instead of me

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DrMetters@reddit

Yes. Sometimes are egos are so big, we refer to yourselves in the plural.

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rtrs_bastiat@reddit

No

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lucky1pierre@reddit

Yes.

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ScreenNameToFollow@reddit

I tend to alter it for more formal settings but my general rule is "us".

"Can you pass us that plate, please?" I seldom say "me".

I'm educated to master's level. I'm from the north & many of my northern friends say the same but I've not noticed it with the southerners.

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Fizzabl@reddit

Interesting, same education but I'm a southerner instead and seldom say "us"! I'd completely understand if somebody said it though

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richbun@reddit

If you want a laugh, or are really posh: one

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TSC-99@reddit

Yes, we use us for me a lot in Middlesbrough.

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Realistic-River-1941@reddit

You would only say it if you are a parrot. Along with pieces of eight.

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thewearisomeMachine@reddit

It exists in certain slang/dialects. I would never use it myself, but it’s obvious what it means in context.

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OriginalMandem@reddit

It's not as prevalent in the southwest where I am vs further up country that's for sure.

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spynie55@reddit

Yes. ‘Give us a hand here will you…’. I think I’ve definitely said.

Probably a first person singular form of speech as you say, although, as with a kiss, it’s a request for something which takes at least 2 people so by the time it happens it wouldn’t be singular…

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britishink@reddit

Giververth (sp) thy chips...

?????

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DefiantTillTheEn6@reddit

It means me, so give us a kiss means give me a kiss.

If it's a 2 people conversation, and you're being given an instruction or request with a plural pronoun, it normally means "me"

For example:

Give us one of those = give me one of those Give us a hug/kiss/interchangeable action = give me a...