Comments

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  mulya rachmatoellah June 18, 2011 5:45

  thank you Bev, for accepting my friend request. it will wonderful to learn english with you...have a great week end!
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  Tanya June 14, 2011 18:33

  Bev, here is one more link to the group you may like:

  http://my.englishclub.com/group/Ethicalchoices
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  Tanya June 14, 2011 17:00

  Dear Bev! I have sent you my email address (see the message in EC). Besides, I have answered to your question about cossacks and Kazakhs on the discussion "My country is Ukraine". I also posted one more comment for you there. I hope, you will like those discussions. Anyway, feel free asking me any questions about Ukraine or Russia. I will gladly answer if I know.

  Have a nice day
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  nimmi June 14, 2011 3:38

  mmmmmmmmmmm.I think so.because my country is a tropical country and I think we have holidays more than you country .we have one holiday as a "poya day" for every month except week end.but some months it going to the week end.for the poyaday we are going to the temple.but it is not compulsory.
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  nimmi June 12, 2011 7:43

  
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  Tanya June 10, 2011 18:08

  In the last examples I doubt how to express a habit or some regular action before some moment in the Past and if we can use WOULD or USED TO in this case. "wouldn't cook" sounds wrong for me. It expresses some action in the Future in the Past. So, what about "wouldn't have to" or "hadn't used to cook"? Besides, I have a lot of doubts about using negative forms of these words in this meaning.

  Bev, it is not urgent, but I'd like to find out the answers and books are useless in this case. Modals express emotions and only native "feel" them correctly.

  Sorry for disturbing you.  I will be very thankful for your answering but take your time and have a great weekend!
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  Tanya June 7, 2011 10:34

  One more question about modal verbs. You know it is one of the most difficult parts of grammar as  modals can't be translated. Which sentence is correct?

   

  She wouldn't have cooked before she got married

  She wouldn't cook before she got married

   

  Or is there any other possibility to say the same?

  
  

  
  
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  Tanya June 7, 2011 10:33

  1. Here are two sentences:

  We were to meet yesterday (we agreed or planned to meet but it is unknown if we met or not)

  We were to have met yesterday (the same but we didn't meet)

  Does  the second sentence express that? I am unsure but I am sure as to the first.

  2. Here is the sentence:

  They could have invited us to yesterday's party!

  Does this sentence express dissatisfaction mixed with irony or some offence? I feel, it does.

  3. Here is the question and a few answers with my comments. Do I understand them correctly? A child asks:

  May I take a walk?

  Yes, you may/can (can is more informal)

  No, you shouldn't ( the advice not to do that, sounds soft)

  No, you can't. It is too cold (there are some reasons for not doing that, sounds rather soft)

  No, you mustn't (I don't allow you and that's it!)

  No, you may not! (sounds rough)

  Please, correct me if I am wrong. Thanks in advance and have a nice day!

   
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  Tanya June 7, 2011 10:30

  Dear Bev! Hi! Hope, you are doing well. I didn't want to disturb you because you said you would be busy till June 7. How are things? Have you already finished teaching? As a matter of fact, my nick on Skype is tgoshka. I realize you didn't recognize me. Sorry, I should have introduced myself.

  Bev, I do need some help. I hope you don't mind answering to my questions. They are about some modal verbs. Being a native speaker you just "feel" them like I feel any Russian expression or idiom. To make it easier for you to answer, I have written my (or,  maybe, not mine) understanding of all phrases in the brackets.  Will you tell me, what is correct and what is not, please? There will be a few parts always
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  Emily June 7, 2011 10:06

  I must say that I am very grateful to you for your enthusiastic correction in our group as well as in my blogs. Wish you a nice week.