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.
You need to be a member of MyEnglishClub to add comments!
I am confuse about using the "have", "has" and "had". In my understanding, "had" we use if in past tense and must before the verb, am i right? Can you explain with simple example so that i can understand.
Linda asks: "Hi Tanya
I would like to asking you about Adjective.
An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun by describing identifying
a quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the
pronoun which is modifies
Please suggestion and let me know as soon as possible
Thank you
Linda k"
Linda! Here is my answer. Adjectives really describe quantity but, more often, quality of nouns. We use them before nouns. For example:
an interesting book
a true friend
However, in many cases we use adjectives together with pronouns as definitions of nouns. For example:
In this case an adjective is placed after a pronoun but before a noun. In such expressions we can use possesive (my, your,...), demonstrative (this, that...), indefinite (some, any,...) pronouns as well as many, much, little, few...
Pay attention to the following: if we use a pronoun before a noun there shouldn't be any article.
In fact, adjectives don't define pronouns. Pronouns define nouns, they don't need definition themselves.
Hi, Alex! Right is "I have beento India" or "I wasin India last year". In the Present Perfect we use "to" instead of "in" in such kind of sentences. As to business letters, I've just started working with that course. But you can easily find such material right here, in the Club. Click "Learn English" on the top of the page and you will see the necessary options.
Alexey said:
Good evening, Tanya! How is correct: I have been to (or in) India. Thank you a lot. And one more. Do you have any exercises or lessons for writting commercial letters?
I don't mind to explain if you ask me more correct question. What is not clear about Gerund? You see, Gerung is a noun verb, i.e., a verb that explains progressive action. Do you mean so called "Gerund List" or how to use it or...? Please, make yourself clear, OK?
Sorry! There were a few misprints. First of all "no cases", "negative prefixes", then "feel free to ask". I usually get tired by night. Excuse me.
Tanya said:
Hi, Salem! Thank you for your question. You see, there is no such an idea like an ergative verb in English (at least I don't know). "Ergative" means a special case of noun (maybe, verb) but not in English because there are ni cases. As to prefixes. There are a few negatine prefixes in English like: un-, dis, mis-, im-, in-, non- but there is no rule. The idea is that you have to know them by heart. If you don't use them the sentence will be affirmative, i.e.
It was easy to find your house (I didn't have any problems)
It was uneasy to find your house (I had great problems)
If I haven't answered your question, feel fre ask me others.
salem said:
I would like to know about two things belonging to grammar.First, what are ergative verbs ? . Second ,Are there specific rules about affixes ?.I mean that it is known when we make a sentence like the following:He unhides himself very faster.I want to say can we put the following prefixes dis,de,none..etc instead of "un" without changing the meaning of the abovementioned sentence? or we cann't and why ?
Hi, Salem! Thank you for your question. You see, there is no such an idea like an ergative verb in English (at least I don't know). "Ergative" means a special case of noun (maybe, verb) but not in English because there are ni cases.
As to prefixes. There are a few negatine prefixes in English like: un-, dis, mis-, im-, in-, non- but there is no rule. The idea is that you have to know them by heart. If you don't use them the sentence will be affirmative, i.e.
It was easy to find your house (I didn't have any problems)
It was uneasy to find your house (I had great problems)
If I haven't answered your question, feel fre ask me others.
salem said:
I would like to know about two things belonging to grammar.First, what are ergative verbs ? . Second ,Are there specific rules about affixes ?.I mean that it is known when we make a sentence like the following:He unhides himself very faster.I want to say can we put the following prefixes dis,de,none..etc instead of "un" without changing the meaning of the abovementioned sentence? or we cann't and why ?
I would like to know about two things belonging to grammar.First, what are ergative verbs ? .
Second ,Are there specific rules about affixes ?.I mean that it is known when we make a sentence like the following:He unhides himself very faster.I want to say can we put the following prefixes dis,de,none..etc instead of "un" without changing the meaning of the abovementioned sentence? or we cann't and why ?
Kevin asks:when using the word ´and ´ in the subject, such as " Bob and Jack" is "and" a conjunction or is it included as a part of a subject ?
When we use "and" in the subject that is the first word in the sentence, it is a part of the subject. For example:
Bob and Jackare my friends. My husband and Ihave been there.
"And" is a conjunction anyway. It is a part of speech. Here, the matter is in a compound subject and general structure of the sentence.
If we use such a subject in "There is/are" construction or some others like it, the number of the verb "be" (or other) is related to the first word of the compound subject:
There isa girl and two boys in the yard.
There aretwo boys and a girl in the yard.
Dear Senthil! It is my last answer this week. I will be absent till July 4. You are one of the most curious learners here and I appreciate it very much.
So, your question is about English Tenses. It is uneasy to explain them in a few words because the Tenses make a strict logical system. Anyway, I will try to explain the difference between The Simple Past and The Present Perfect Tenses.
All structures you wrote are right. The matter is when to use them.
1. We use The Simple Past Tense when we mean that the action took place (happened, occured) in the past, is not related to the present (or we don't know about that) and we mention it as a fact (we don't emphasize its duration). We also use this tense when we describe regular action in the past or enumarate a few consecutive actions. In such sentences we usually use a time modifier that describes the past. Here are a few examples:
He called me up yesterday. (Affirmative) (a fact) Did he call you yeasterday? (Interrogative)
He didn't call me yesterday. (Negative)
I often called home when I was on business trip. (Regular action)
She came home late, took a shower and went to bed (Enumeration)
2. We use The Present Perfect Tense when we want to say that the action has already taken place but its result is related to the present. In such sentences we never use the past time modifier. There are many so called "standard" cases when we use this tense. Here are a few of them:
a) there is no time modifier.
I have bought a car (I still have it)
b)There is a present time modifier
I have seen him this week
c) with the adverbs of uncertain time: just, ever, never, already, yet, recently, lately, before, etc.
I have just come in ( I am at home now)
I haven't met him before (I don't know him in person) Hasn't he come yet? ( He is not here)
I have seen that movie recently (I remember it)
d) when we want to say that some action has been taking place for some time till now.
I have known him for ages.
I haven't smoked for a month. (I don't smoke now and it is OK with me)
I have lived here since the childhood (I still live here and I am not going to move out)
e) when we mention the number of times.
I have been here twise.
f) there are a few special expressions:
This is the first time I have been here.
It has been two years since we finished the school.
There are some other cases. But the principle thing is to realize what this or that tense for. Here is a very understandable example.
I have bought a new car. The meaning is that you still have it.
I bought a car last year. It is only information. In the most of cases natives will ask you:"Are you still driving it?" It is not clear that you still have the same car.
As to using auxiliaries in affirmative sentences, please, read what I told Mir above.
senthil said:
Hi Tanya.. I want to know Where to use "I have said ","I said","I did say"...? also is "have i said?" correct one..? if so what does it mean..? Where to use "have i said?" and "Did i say?"..?
Replies
Thank you.
Liza
I would like to asking you about Adjective.
An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun by describing identifying
a quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the
pronoun which is modifies
Please suggestion and let me know as soon as possible
Thank you
Linda k"
Linda! Here is my answer. Adjectives really describe quantity but, more often, quality of nouns. We use them before nouns. For example:
an interesting book
a true friend
However, in many cases we use adjectives together with pronouns as definitions of nouns. For example:
that nice girl
my good friend
some interesting stories
many intersting stories
In this case an adjective is placed after a pronoun but before a noun. In such expressions we can use possesive (my, your,...), demonstrative (this, that...), indefinite (some, any,...) pronouns as well as many, much, little, few...
Pay attention to the following: if we use a pronoun before a noun there shouldn't be any article.
In fact, adjectives don't define pronouns. Pronouns define nouns, they don't need definition themselves.
Alexey said:
Yohana Pebriola said:
Tanya said:
Would you like to explain to me about gerund?
Thank you in advance for that.
your sincerely,
Yohana
As to prefixes. There are a few negatine prefixes in English like: un-, dis, mis-, im-, in-, non- but there is no rule. The idea is that you have to know them by heart. If you don't use them the sentence will be affirmative, i.e.
It was easy to find your house (I didn't have any problems)
It was uneasy to find your house (I had great problems)
If I haven't answered your question, feel fre ask me others.
salem said:
Second ,Are there specific rules about affixes ?.I mean that it is known when we make a sentence like the following:He unhides himself very faster.I want to say can we put the following prefixes dis,de,none..etc instead of "un" without changing the meaning of the abovementioned sentence? or we cann't and why ?
When we use "and" in the subject that is the first word in the sentence, it is a part of the subject. For example:
Bob and Jack are my friends.
My husband and I have been there.
"And" is a conjunction anyway. It is a part of speech. Here, the matter is in a compound subject and general structure of the sentence.
If we use such a subject in "There is/are" construction or some others like it, the number of the verb "be" (or other) is related to the first word of the compound subject:
There is a girl and two boys in the yard.
There are two boys and a girl in the yard.
So, your question is about English Tenses. It is uneasy to explain them in a few words because the Tenses make a strict logical system. Anyway, I will try to explain the difference between The Simple Past and The Present Perfect Tenses.
All structures you wrote are right. The matter is when to use them.
1. We use The Simple Past Tense when we mean that the action took place (happened, occured) in the past, is not related to the present (or we don't know about that) and we mention it as a fact (we don't emphasize its duration). We also use this tense when we describe regular action in the past or enumarate a few consecutive actions. In such sentences we usually use a time modifier that describes the past. Here are a few examples:
He called me up yesterday. (Affirmative) (a fact)
Did he call you yeasterday? (Interrogative)
He didn't call me yesterday. (Negative)
I often called home when I was on business trip. (Regular action)
She came home late, took a shower and went to bed (Enumeration)
2. We use The Present Perfect Tense when we want to say that the action has already taken place but its result is related to the present. In such sentences we never use the past time modifier. There are many so called "standard" cases when we use this tense. Here are a few of them:
a) there is no time modifier.
I have bought a car (I still have it)
b)There is a present time modifier
I have seen him this week
c) with the adverbs of uncertain time: just, ever, never, already, yet, recently, lately, before, etc.
I have just come in ( I am at home now)
I haven't met him before (I don't know him in person)
Hasn't he come yet? ( He is not here)
I have seen that movie recently (I remember it)
d) when we want to say that some action has been taking place for some time till now.
I have known him for ages.
I haven't smoked for a month. (I don't smoke now and it is OK with me)
I have lived here since the childhood (I still live here and I am not going to move out)
e) when we mention the number of times.
I have been here twise.
f) there are a few special expressions:
This is the first time I have been here.
It has been two years since we finished the school.
There are some other cases. But the principle thing is to realize what this or that tense for. Here is a very understandable example.
I have bought a new car. The meaning is that you still have it.
I bought a car last year. It is only information. In the most of cases natives will ask you:"Are you still driving it?" It is not clear that you still have the same car.
As to using auxiliaries in affirmative sentences, please, read what I told Mir above.
senthil said:
-
23
-
24
-
25
-
26
-
27
of 30 Next