Addressing people: vocatives

10.115 When you are talking to people, you sometimes address them using their own name or title, or a word like 'darling' or 'idiot'. Words used like this are called vocatives.

Vocatives are not used in British English as commonly as in some other languages, of even in American English. Some are used only in formal contexts, some only in informal ones. Look in a Cobuild dictionary for more detailed information.

position of vocatives 10.116 Vocatives are often used at the end of a sentence or clause, in writing, they are usually preceded by a comma.

Where are you staying, Mr Swallow?

Thanks, love.

You can put them at the beginning of a science in order to attract someone's attention before speaking to them.

John, how long have you been at the university?

Dad, why have you got that suit on?

titles 10.117 When you address someone in a fairly formal way, you use their title and surname. Information about titles is given in 1.56 to 1.58.

Goodbye, Dr Kirk.

Thank you, Mr Jones.

How old are you, Miss Flewin?

Titles indicating a special qualification, rank, or job can be used on their own.

What's wrong, Doctor?

Well, professor?

WARNING 10.118 The titles 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss', and 'Ms' are used only with a surname. To address people formally without their surname, 'sir' and 'madam' are used, especially by employees to customers or clients.

Yes, sir.

What is that, madam?

other vocatives 10.119 You can use noun groups to show your opinion of someone. Those which show dislike or contempt are often used with 'you' in front of them.

No, you fool, the other way.

Shut your big mouth, you stupid idiot.

Vocatives showing affection are usually used by themselves, but 'my' can be used in more old-fashioned or humorous contexts.

Goodbye, darling.

We've got to go, my dear.

Nouns that refer to family or social relationships can be used as vocatives.

Someone's got to do it, mum.

Sorry, Grandma.

She'll be all right, mate.

Trust me, kid.

Vocatives are occasionally used in the plural.

Sit down, kids.

Come on, you know what I mean, you idiots.

Note that 'ladies', 'gentlemen', and 'children' are only used in the plural.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.

Contents of the Reference Section

page

Contents 1

Editorial team 6

Introduction 6

Note on Examples 10

Guide to the Use of the Grammar 11

Glossary of grammatical terms 13

Cobuild Grammar Chart 21

Contents of Chapter 1 22

1 Referring to people and things 26

Introduction to the noun group 26

Identifying people and things: nouns 28

Things which can be counted: count nouns 29

Things not usually counted: uncount nouns 31

When there is only one of something: singular nouns 33

Referring to more than one thing: plural nouns 34

Referring to groups: collective nouns 36

Referring to people and things by name: proper nouns 37

Nouns which are rarely used alone 38

Sharing the same quality: adjectives as headwords 39

Nouns referring to males or females 40

Referring to activities and processes: '-ing' nouns 41

Specifying more exactly: compound nouns 42

Referring to people and things without naming them: pronouns 44

Referring to people and things: personal pronouns 44

Mentioning possession: possessive pronouns 47

Referring back to the subject: reflexive pronouns 47

Referring to a particular person or thing: demonstrative pronouns 48

Referring to people and things in a general way: indefinite pronouns 49

Showing that two people do the same thing: reciprocal pronouns 51

Joining clauses together: relative pronouns 51

Asking questions: interrogative pronouns 52

Other pronouns 53