I am starting this discussion for those who want to improve their knowledge of grammar. Dear learners! If you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer to them.
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Dear Minh!I'd like to say that as for a self-learner you express your mind quite clearly. You know, you make mistakes. Reading this comment of yours I've noticed that you have problems with English Tenses. It means, that first of all you should revise this part of grammar. And, of course, I'd like to thank you and others for the warm words you tell me. It is you all who make me feel confident. Thank you, guys!
Minh Bui said:
Hi Tanya. I'm an English self-taught leaner for a long time. I can read quite well and i can communicate with somebody in English and we've understood each other although I know i've made mistakes all the time. But I'm not confident of my English and I didn't have many opportunities to practice it. You told us if we are not confident, restart to learn Grammar again. I'll do it. After a while learning English, reading a lot of English books course, I was bored to death :-) so I stopped and began to read English novels, watch Hollywood movies and my English's getting better. Now I know I have to make my grammar knowledge stronger. I just want to say thank you for all your kind help.
Hi Tanya. I'm an English self-taught leaner for a long time. I can read quite well and i can communicate with somebody in English and we've understood each other although I know i've made mistakes all the time. But I'm not confident of my English and I didn't have many opportunities to practice it. You told us if we are not confident, restart to learn Grammar again. I'll do it. After a while learning English, reading a lot of English books course, I was bored to death :-) so I stopped and began to read English novels, watch Hollywood movies and my English's getting better. Now I know I have to make my grammar knowledge stronger. I just want to say thank you for all your kind help.
That is right. If you describe some past action that is not connected with the present then you should use only Past Tenses. However, if some action is taking place now or you think so or you believe it you should use Present or Future tenses. Let me give you an example.
"Yesterday I met my university-mate whom I hadn't seen for many years. He said he had gotten married and has a child. He said his family is still living in Bathlaham but they all are going to move to NYC soon. We agreed to meet again and he said he will call me tomorrow".
The above-mentioned is an example of how we use Tenses in dialogue or when we wright letters, blogs, news, etc. Is it clear? I can explain it differently.
Sweet dream said:
Hi Tanya, I am a little bit confused between present tense and past tense in this passage: "The first day I set foot in the United States, I felt very stressed. Although I already studied English many years ago in Vietnam, I still did not understand what people were saying. They talked too fast for me to follow. Besides, Eastern and Western culture are dramatically different. Therefore, I had a very tough time to accustom to this new life."
Is it proper that I use present tense in the bold sentence?. I think It's a true fact so I use present tense instead of past tense.
Thank you
sweet dream
Hi Tanya,
I am a little bit confused between present tense and past tense in this passage:
"The first day I set foot in the United States, I felt very stressed. Although I already studied English many years ago in Vietnam, I still did not understand what people were saying. They talked too fast for me to follow. Besides, Eastern and Western culture are dramatically different. Therefore, I had a very tough time to accustom to this new life."
Is it proper that I use present tense in the bold sentence?. I think It's a true fact so I use present tense instead of past tense.
Thank you
sweet dream
What you mean are not Modal verbs. These are English Tenses. "Have to" is not a modal verb. It is so called pseudomodal verb. It means that this verb expresses the same as modal ones but its grammar is regular, i.e. we can use it in Simple and Perfect Tenses. Besides, you have to remember that pseudomadals are always followed by infinitive (not gerund!)
Indah said:
tanya,, thanks for ur comment before..
i want to know how to use modals like: use "ed", "es",have,had,have been, or else same with it..
i don't understand how to use it,actually..
Hello Teacher, thanks for the explanation, but i don't understand with this "First of all, you should do many written exersises and my advice is to rewrite the full sentense." Would you like to give me, what kind of written exercise?
Hello Teacher, thanks for the explanation, but i don't understand with this "First of all, you should do many written exersises and my advice is to rewrite the full sentense." Would you like to give me, what kind of written exercise?
Dear Sandy and other members of my group! A few people asked me almost the same question. So, let me answer it only once. It is about English grammar in general. Guys, I am 100% sure that an adult person can't speak good or fluent English without knowing grammar. It is well-known fact that only very small kids can accept foreign language without knowing any rules. At the age of 7-8 they already ask "Why?". It means they are not sure and as a result they will not say that until they understand why.So, to make a long story short let me say that the better you know grammar the easier it is for you to express your mind correctly. And the idea is to speak correct English. Grammar is not some separate subject. It is "a basement" of any language. Have I convinced you? (Smile!). As to how to learn it. First of all, you need a good grammar book with a lot of exersises and keys to them.
Of all books I know I can recommend you only one. It is Raymond Murphy's "Essential and English grammar in use" (2 books). There are also supplementary exersise books by the same author. You can easily find them in the net. They are very popular. I don't like them very much because of poor explanations but you can always ask me or other teachers if you don't understand. That is what teachers for. Now, how to memorize grammar rules. I think the answer is obvious. The more often you use it, the better you remember. Actually, each rule should become a part of your speech. First of all, you should do many written exersises and my advice is to rewrite the full sentense. It this case you will remember the full sentense, not only the word you have to insert. Then, try to say at least 3 sentenses using this or that rule. They have to be your own sentenses. After such exersising most of people usually memorize the rule and start using it in their written and oral language. There was also a question about appropriate sites in the net. Guys, I don't use them. I can tell you only addresses of the sites with the good tests. My advice is:"Don't trust everything in the net!". Nobody knows who has written this or that site. If you find something that cause your interest, please ask me to look it through first, OK? I hope, I answered your questions. If not, feel free ask me more.
Sincerely yours,
Tanya.
sandy said:
Hi Tanya : I have someproblems in grammar when i am reading rules i understand them but i can not memorize them and also how can i use the grammar rules in my writing and spoken
Hi, Dung! "Dear" is an adjective which means "dear, close to our heart". We can use this word in front of a noun or separately. Here are a few examples:
My dear friend!
You are so dear to me!
In spoken English we can also say:
Hi, dear!
My friend, dear!
but it is actually informal. We can also use an exclamation "Dear me!" in oral speach.
Dung said:
Hi ! I am Dung. I am a new member in this web. I have just read all the comment. I think it is usful for me. I want to ask u a question. I dont know the way we use the word "dear". Some people told me that " my friend dear" or " my dear" ... and I dont understand why they use like that. Can u help me? Thanks for all! ^^
Replies
Minh Bui said:
"Yesterday I met my university-mate whom I hadn't seen for many years. He said he had gotten married and has a child. He said his family is still living in Bathlaham but they all are going to move to NYC soon. We agreed to meet again and he said he will call me tomorrow".
The above-mentioned is an example of how we use Tenses in dialogue or when we wright letters, blogs, news, etc. Is it clear? I can explain it differently.
Sweet dream said:
I am a little bit confused between present tense and past tense in this passage:
"The first day I set foot in the United States, I felt very stressed. Although I already studied English many years ago in Vietnam, I still did not understand what people were saying. They talked too fast for me to follow. Besides, Eastern and Western culture are dramatically different. Therefore, I had a very tough time to accustom to this new life."
Is it proper that I use present tense in the bold sentence?. I think It's a true fact so I use present tense instead of past tense.
Thank you
sweet dream
Indah said:
Benny Keef said:
Of all books I know I can recommend you only one. It is Raymond Murphy's "Essential and English grammar in use" (2 books). There are also supplementary exersise books by the same author. You can easily find them in the net. They are very popular. I don't like them very much because of poor explanations but you can always ask me or other teachers if you don't understand. That is what teachers for. Now, how to memorize grammar rules. I think the answer is obvious. The more often you use it, the better you remember. Actually, each rule should become a part of your speech. First of all, you should do many written exersises and my advice is to rewrite the full sentense. It this case you will remember the full sentense, not only the word you have to insert. Then, try to say at least 3 sentenses using this or that rule. They have to be your own sentenses. After such exersising most of people usually memorize the rule and start using it in their written and oral language. There was also a question about appropriate sites in the net. Guys, I don't use them. I can tell you only addresses of the sites with the good tests. My advice is:"Don't trust everything in the net!". Nobody knows who has written this or that site. If you find something that cause your interest, please ask me to look it through first, OK? I hope, I answered your questions. If not, feel free ask me more.
Sincerely yours,
Tanya.
sandy said:
My dear friend!
You are so dear to me!
In spoken English we can also say:
Hi, dear!
My friend, dear!
but it is actually informal. We can also use an exclamation "Dear me!" in oral speach.
Dung said:
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