Messages

16

You Asked Me This Question / Tenses!!!

« on: July 26, 2012, 04:28:02 PM »

Hello sir,

I am studying tenses through English Page.com.  They have some nice exercises.  The Tenses are driving me insane!!!  I need to ask the following:

1.  In the sentence: "My best friend and I have known each other for over fifteen years.  We still get together once a week."  Does 'have known" indicate Present Perfect? On English Page`s site, under Present Perfect - it says that you cannot use the PP with specific time expressions.  So, fifteen years is a time expression?? If this sentence is in the PP, then under which usage heading on the English Page - Present Perfect - does it fall?

2.  "Stinson is a fantastic writer.  He has written ten very creative short stories in the last year.  One day, he'll be as fabous as Hemingway."  Has written - is it Present Perfect? Because according to the sentence he is expected to write more stories? So, on English Page, under PP, it will fall under the heading - An uncompleted action you are expecting?

3.  "I have not had this much fun since I was a kid." Present Perfect? For the same reason as sentence 2?

Thank you,
Annelize

17

You Asked Me This Question / Re: Present perfect continuous tense

« on: July 05, 2012, 03:16:48 PM »

You know, in South Africa we have a saying that we use when completely confused, surprised or experiencing something weird or unexpected... EISH!!!! 

I will look up actives and passives and study your feedback.  But the English language...EISH!

Thank you!

18

You Asked Me This Question / Present perfect continuous tense

« on: July 04, 2012, 08:17:10 PM »

Hi there,

I printed all the tenses info from www.englishpage.com. I am really trying to learn the tenses, but find it very confusing.  I read the following in a newspaper:

Vreken, who  has been described by family members as a man who approaced life with a positive attitude, was killed on Saturday while out on his morning jog.

Now, according to the englishpage site, 'has been' is a present perfect continuous tense and must be used with the present participle - ing.  It must be used when speaking of something that started in the past and has continued up untill now. Or it must be used with 'recently and lately.'  In this sentence I do not see the -ing.  Also, it is something that his family said about him.  So it is a completed action? They did not start saying it and it continued up untill whenever?!?! Please help!

19

You Asked Me This Question / Re: mass nouns

« on: June 26, 2012, 03:49:40 PM »

Thank you sir!

20

You Asked Me This Question / mass nouns

« on: June 25, 2012, 06:01:30 PM »

When using mass, abstract mass and count nouns, how do I know when to use the verb in singular or plural form? For instance: The sea is/are ... the rain is/are... or the rain fall/falls down...