Bill the English Teacher

Elisa Nguyen May 18, 2010 3:56

Hello Teacher Bill!
First, I want to thank you for the add.Then, it's very glad to making friend with you.
You are right that Nguyen is my last name. In my country, some family names are so popular that if you address Miss Nguyen, over one million people will answer you *_*. Everyone calls me Phu.
I've been studying English for 9 years, but I've just really spoken English since 2 years ago. I know that I need to try a lot. Hope you help me. Thanks so much again
Kate May 16, 2010 19:58

Bill, thanks for your questions. If I start counting the years of my study of English I feel as old as the Pyramids :) In fact, I've been trained as a teacher of English and I sometimes tutor students, from junior school mainly. But now I'm stay-at-home mom and have almost no chance to use English. It seems to me that my brain is absolutely rusty and immovable. I hope, EC will help :)
Your grandchildren are lovely! How old is Cora Beth?
rose May 16, 2010 8:28

hi Mr. Bill
i made a blog....about our son's future.
hope u visit it.
waiting ur comment ok?
have a nice ady
rose May 14, 2010 16:46

hi again Mr. Bill
thank u for asking ...yes my studying is good ..
and everyyhing is ok thank god
have a nice day
rose May 13, 2010 12:39

Hi Mr. Bill
how r u these days ...
like to ask about u from time to time if u dont mind?!!
because i think friends should ask about each other ..am i correct?
so hope u r ok and ur family sepically..Mile..hope he adjusts with his new family..
Tanya May 6, 2010 8:12

rDea Bill! Thank you very much!
Nadiyah May 5, 2010 3:07

hello Bill the Teacher ,
How are you? hope you're in health.
I just wanted to say : HI ...

-Nadiyah-
Abulmagd May 2, 2010 23:26

hello Mr.bill
thank you for accepting me as a friend i'm very happy to find friends and teachers like you thank you very much >>
i find English an easy language but my problems are in speaking and listening... i need to practice more speaking so could you plz give me some advices to improve my English language
thanks
yours Abulmagd
Tanya May 1, 2010 11:15

Dear Bill! Thanks, again!Your explanations are quite clear. Honestly, I have meant complex predicates consisting of three of four words. There are no doubt about simple and compound ones. You see, I learned many grammar books and asked many questions but I have always gotten discrepant answers although all the sources were native. The present situation is the same. I asked Canadians the same question and they say "I have been impatiently waiting" is wrong and it is necessary to say "I have impatiently been waiting". If I spoke English in my everyday life only, I wouldn't pay any attention to that. But as far as I teach and my students consider my English to be almost native, I am responsible for any word I say. Well, you know what I mean. I know differences between British and American spelling, some grammar points, but I have never heard anything like that about adverbs. I mean your answer and one of Canadians. What can you say about that? As to Subjunctive. I am sory if I sounded impolite. You get so many messages and comments. I thought you couldn't have seen it. It is not urgent and I am really thankful for I have always wanted to clarify this point. However, there is one urgent question because one of my students is lerning infinitive now. When I explained him how to use the infinitive, I omited adverbs in vain because I have never been sure. But he is upper intermediate and he asked. So, I ask you very much to tell me which of the following sentences is correct.

He promised never to do that again or

He promised to never do that again.

I can explain everything myself. I just need to be sure.

Excuse me again for asking so many questions. I hope you know that I ask not because on idle curiosity. Anyway, I'd like to say I would have never escaped from the US if I had been amoug such people like you are! My bers regards to you and your family! Have a nice day!
Tanya April 30, 2010 17:42

Dear Bill! Thank you very much! You are so kind and helpful! I feel ashamed for being so importunate! But I want to be sure in what I teach. So, I have some more questions. They are about the right place of an adverb in the sentence.

Is there any rule about where to place an adverb in the complex predicate? I seem to have come across it many years ago but I am not sure. It seems to read as we should place an adverb after the first word of a predicate in any case. Is it right? Anyway, being a native speaker you know the right answer. So, I have two questions as to adverbs

1) what is correct in the Future and the Future in the Past Tenses?

would never be done or would be never done (Passive)

will hardly have finished or will have hardly finished (Active)

2) how to use an adverb with an infinitive? What is correct?

He promised never to do that again or

He promised to never do that again.

You see, to teach people I must be sure. Excuse my disturbing you
and thank you in advance!

As a matter of fact, what about my previous question about subjunctive when we describe events of the past like in the fiction or srory?