Nọw‿

1 A short, unstressed* Now at the beginning of a statement, immediately followed by the next word, has many interpretations, as we'll see below. It's often used within narratives to interject something that deviates from the story somewhat, but is considered by the speaker to be important for the listener to note. It has a nuance of <here's something you should know before I continue with this story>.

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*Note that this same nuance can be made more emphatic by pronouncing it as ⤵︎Now, followed by a pause, which I'll indicate with a comma on this site. This pronunciation has other nuances, which you can read about here.

In this example, the speaker uses Nọw_ to add a parenthetical side note — a factoid that makes his story all the more interesting. In this usage, Nọw can be compared to the opening parenthesis, and anyway, at any rate, anyhow, etc. can be considered the closing parenthesis to let the listener know that you've finished your little detour and are going to continue the story, as in this example.

My New Year's resolution in 2017 was to learn a new language, but I didn't know which one. Then I saw Ben Affleck speaking Russian in a movie and I was like that's it! Now I didn't know any Russian at the time, so I had no idea how bad his Russian was; I just thought it sounded badass. Anyway, I've been studying it since then and I've actually gotten quite good at it.

In 001, I want to make sure my listeners don't think that the reason I had a problem with Samantha's request was that I didn't like dogs... so I use Nọw_ to deviate for a moment and make this clear before continuing the story.

Now don't get me wrong... I love dogs. I've had them all my life and I have one now that I adore. But Samantha's dogs are another story: they're small, yippy and mean.

In 002, I confess that I had no idea what the birds in my local park were called, and I used Nọw_ to add a little side note in my defense.

I knew there were big white birds with long, skinny necks; and in the ponds, there were small black birds with red beaks that made a cute honking noise. I just didn't know what any of them were called. Now in my defense, I'm not a total stranger to birds. In fact, I have a pet bird — a cockatoo named Rocco. And I've always enjoyed seeing birds in the park — especially after a big rainfall when they all play in the puddles.

2 Before an imperative, unstressed Now has a nuance of prompting or urging the listener — usually in a gentle, friendly way. As such, it's a popular way to talk to children, but it can be used with anyone you want to be kind to.

Alternatively, this same nuance can be expressed with unstressed _now at the end, and here, again, you can be included before the verb:

(You) enjoy your day, _now! or

(You) tell your folks I said hi, _now, (ok?)

And in the negative:

Don't (you) stay out too late, now, (hear?/ok?)

It's common to include you in this type of imperative — often followed by a rhetorical hear? or ok?, which serve to make it more friendly or categorical — especially in negative imperatives. It implies <be sure to do or not do this>. In fact, you'll often hear these words included: Now you be sure to say hi to your folks for me, hear? But you can leave them out, and the imperative will have the same force: Now (you) enjoy your day(, hear?) or Now (you) tell your folks I said hi, ok? Negative imperatives of this type follow the same pattern: Now don't (you) stay out too late(, hear?/ok?).

_______________⦿ Nothing doing | I won't hear of it | These phrases are basically used to politely turn down an offer from someone to do something for you — especially if you feel they're putting themselves out or going to too much trouble. You'll usually only hear the older generation use nothing doing.

Doug goes to pay for a book in her local bookstore only to find that she left her wallet at home.____________

Bob: Gonna learn some Spanish, huh?

Doug: Yep, I need to expand my horizons.

Bob: That'll be $12.50.

Doug: Oh no, I left my wallet at home. I'll put this back and come back tomorrow.

Bob: Nothing doing! You can pay me later.

Doug: Thank you, Bob, but I won't hear of it.

Bob: [Taking the book and putting it in Doug's backpack] Now you take this book home and pay me whenever. Ok?!

Doug: Ok. Thank you so much!

____________Here Bob is being politely forceful, leaving Doug no choice but to take the book whether he wants to or not. So although this form can be extremely forceful when used categorically, it's extremely kind when used to insist.

3 Depending on the situation and the intonation of the speaker, unstressed Now before an imperative can also sound menacing and is often used in giving stern warnings. Including you in the imperative makes it sound even more menacing and serious.

Bob, a bookstore owner, catches a young man trying to walk out of his store with a book.

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Bob: Ah-ah... you come back here and take that book out of your backpack.

Ernie: What book?

Bob: Don't play with me, young man, we have security cameras.

[Ernie reluctantly takes the book out of his backpack and puts it on the counter]

Bob: Now you listen carefully... if I ever see you in this store again, I won't hesitate to call the police. Is that clear?

4 Unstressed Now can also be used when asking someone to do something in a specific way — especially if it's in their best interest or for their safety. In this usage, it expresses genuine concern. In this usage, including the pronoun you in the imperative makes it sound kinder.

Five-year-old Amanda comes into Bob's bookstore to buy her mom a newspaper.____________

Amanda: Hi Mr. Bob!

Bob: Well hello there, sweetheart. What can I do for you?

Amanda: My mommy wants me to buy the newspaper.

Bob: You didin't walk here on your own, did you?

Amanda: No, my mommy's in the car.

[Bob looks up and sees the mom waving from her car in front of the store]

Bob: I see! Well here's the paper. Now you go straight back to the car, ok?

Amanda: Thank you, Mr. Bob!

5 After correcting someone or instructing them how to do something or what to do, initial unstressed Now is also often used to ask them to do it over or try again — correctly or differently this time. In this usage, we only include you in the imperative if we're angry or frustrated.

Nicky gets feedback from his boss on a report he just wrote.____________

Boss: Nicky, I just heard back from Management about that report we submitted.

Nicky: And?

Boss: And I hadn't noticed that you used names in it. We only mention departments in reports, not employees. Now go through the entire report and replace all the names with their corresponding departments, please.

Nicky: Ugh! Will do...

6 Unstressed Now followed by a stressed noun is used in a comparative sense to highlight someone or something that the speaker considers a better example, or the ultimate example, of the type of person or thing being discussed — especially compared to others. In this type of statement, intonation is key.

During high school swim practice, Nicky has a chat with Alex's coach about his swimming. ____________

Coach: You should consider letting Alex try out for the olympic team.

Nicky: Really? You think he has a chance?

Coach: Most of the boys on the team only know how to swim laps, but they don't do well in competition. Now Alex, that's what I call a swimmer!

____________Note the intonation here: the element that follows unstessed Now has to be stressed in order to express the contrast correctly.

Dean: What's Karen doing for work these days?

Stan: She's working for a Russian import company out of New York. She translates contracts and correspondence and stuff like that.

Dean: What? Karen speaks Russian?

Stan: Can you believe it? A couple years ago, she decided she wanted to be a Russian translator and just taught herself Russian.

Dean: That's really saying something. You can "just teach yourself" languages like Spanish and German — lots of people do. Now Russian, that's another story.

7 Unstressed initial Now is used to clarify something when the speaker feels that they should be transparent about something that may be important to what is being discussed. The nuance here is <Just to be clear...>

Boris gets a photography assignment in Asia.____________

Boss: Boris, we have an assignment in Thailand that I think you'd be perfect for. Is that something you'd be interested in?

Boris: Would I ever. What's involved?

Boss: You'll be photographing temples. It'll be about a month.

Boris: Count me in. Now I haven't renewed my passport in years — will I have time?

Boss: This won't be until the summer, so you should have plenty of time.

Natasha just started a new job in a department store. The manager calls a staff meeting to explain this year's Christmas bonus to the employees.____________

Manager: This year, instead of a cash Christmas bonus, the store's giving you all a store discount. All of you should've gotten an email giving you a 50% discount code for anything in the store during the month of December.

Natasha: Now I didn't get one. Does that mean I'm not eligible?

Manager: No, it just means you're not on the mailing list. Go see Human Resources and make sure they put you on.

____________Here, Natasha uses now to call the manager's attention to this issue with a nuance of «Just to be clear...».

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