http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ Free English language forums and chat for EFL / ESL students and teachers with discussions covering issues such as grammar, exams, qualifications, academic/business English and more. en Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:52:15 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109689-check-sentence-writing-style.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:25:52 GMT 26th November is upon us, exactly a year ago, 10 terrorists from across the border held this mega city, Mumbai hostage for 60 hours. Even after a year, we do not see any real change on ground as promised, except the procurement of few vehicles and... 26th November is upon us, exactly a year ago, 10 terrorists from across the border held this mega city, Mumbai hostage for 60 hours. Even after a year, we do not see any real change on ground as promised, except the procurement of few vehicles and boats. ]]> Ask a Teacher new2grammar http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109689-check-sentence-writing-style.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109688-since-when-did-you-come.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:49:08 GMT I would like to know the exact meaning of since in this context:

"Since when did you come here?"

It's different from the "since" in "Since two years ago, I have been lonely."

since
adv. 1. From then until now or between then and now
2. Before now; ago
3. After some point in the past; at a subsequent time

prep.

1. Continuously from
2. Intermittently from


conj.
1. During the period subsequent to the time when
2. Continuously from the time when
3. In as much as; because

Thanks for the help. ]]> Ask a Teacher lycen http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109688-since-when-did-you-come.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109687-correct.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:46:27 GMT Which one is correct.

a.) I don't have any reason why I don't like her.
b.) I don't have any reasons why I don't like her.

Thank you very much. ]]> Ask a Teacher O T B http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109687-correct.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109686-glaring-contradictions-between-two-connotations-pretend.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:45:46 GMT Dear teachers, Would you be kind enough to explain to me the glaring contradiction between both connotations of “pretend” in the following sentences? Let’s *pretend to be robbers*. *We’re only pretending*. He... Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to explain to me the glaring contradiction between both connotations of “pretend” in the following sentences?

Let’s pretend to be robbers.

We’re only pretending.

He pretends to be asleep.

He pretends to be very busy.

He pretended illness as a reason for one’s absence.

Boys pertending that they are pirates.

He pretended ignorance, hoping to avoid being fired for breaking the law.

pretend = represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like; state insincerely; to make believe

He petends to her hand.

There are not many persons who pretend to an exact knowledge of the subject.

Surely he does not pretend to intelligence.

The young man pretended to the thron.

pretend = put forward a claim and assert right or possession of

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V. ]]> Ask a Teacher vil http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109686-glaring-contradictions-between-two-connotations-pretend.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109685-kindly-tell-both-these-sentences-correct.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:37:19 GMT India stunned the world with the purchase of 200 tonnes gold from IMF at $6.7 billions and it also led the price of the metal surging ahead at all-time high. or India stunned the world with the purchase of 200 tonnes gold from IMF at $6.7... India stunned the world with the purchase of 200 tonnes gold from IMF at $6.7 billions and it also led the price of the metal surging ahead at all-time high.

or

India stunned the world with the purchase of 200 tonnes gold from IMF at $6.7 billions and it also skyrocketted the price of the metal at all-time high.

Kindly tell if both the sentences are correct. ]]> Ask a Teacher new2grammar http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109685-kindly-tell-both-these-sentences-correct.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/pronunciation-phonetics/109684-pronunciation-basically.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:54:58 GMT Hi All,

I'd like to know correct pronunciation of "Basically", I always hear people say "Basic li" seems the "a" is silent....but sometimes I hear people say "Basic cle li" with "a" sound.....I wanted to know which one is correct? By the way, there are many words with "~cally", like Automatically, Practically, Clinically, Vertically.....their "a" should be sounded or not?

William ]]> Pronunciation and Phonetics Williamyh http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/pronunciation-phonetics/109684-pronunciation-basically.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/pronunciation-phonetics/109683-wordstress-pancake.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:20:02 GMT Hi All,

Yesterday I watched the movie called "2012".....the actress said PANcake in the first time, but in the second time she said panCAKE, she changed the wordstress when saying Pancake, I was wondering how come the wordstress can be changed? Is it my listening problem or the stress of the word can be changed in English World? Please advise...Thanks.


Regards,

William ]]> Pronunciation and Phonetics Williamyh http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/pronunciation-phonetics/109683-wordstress-pancake.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/general-language-discussions/109682-he-said-he-wants-wanted.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:08:32 GMT Hi All,

Sometimes we speak english, we'd like to express someone's conversation in the past...I was wondering how to handle the tense....for instance....he said he wanted to buy something or he said he wants to buy something, I'd like to know which sentence is correct?

Regards,

William ]]> General Language Discussions Williamyh http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/general-language-discussions/109682-he-said-he-wants-wanted.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109680-last-year.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:59:46 GMT Canadian woman loses benefits over Facebook photo - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091122/ap_on_re_ca/cn_canada_facebook_insurance) *Nathalie Blanchard has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec, for the last year.* Can... Canadian woman loses benefits over Facebook photo - Yahoo! News
Nathalie Blanchard has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec, for the last year.

Can I say "the past year" in place of the last year? ]]> Ask a Teacher Elemoi http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109680-last-year.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109679-noun-modifier.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:59:39 GMT Hello, I’m a bit confused about the following sentence construction: The United Nations, in response to the ongoing Liberian Civil War, has recently approved the imposition of some strict policies, measures specifically applicable... Hello,

I’m a bit confused about the following sentence construction:

The United Nations, in response to the ongoing Liberian Civil War, has recently approved the imposition of some strict policies, measures specifically applicable to Liberia’s volatile situation

I’m wondering what type of grammar construction is the clause “measures….situation.” It seems to be modifying the noun “policies,” but it’s my understanding that a verb (measures) can’t be a noun modifier. Can someone shed some light?

Thanks in advance! ]]> Ask a Teacher metallicfacez http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109679-noun-modifier.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109678-highest-positioned-people.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:21:53 GMT Hi,
I'm just a little bit confused about this sentence. Can you tell me which one is grammatically correct? Or if neither of them is correct, could you suggest how to re-write the sentence, keeping the original idea?

- The building is for the highest-positioned-people only.
- The building is for the highest position people only.

Thanks in advance. ]]> Ask a Teacher onetwothree http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109678-highest-positioned-people.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109677-going-through.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:11:06 GMT Dear friends...

Could you proofread this? I am kinda blind, can't put words together anymore.

What was the most embarrassing situation you went through so far?
What has been the most awkward moment you have gone through?
What is the funniest moment you have been through today?

Thank you very much. ]]> Ask a Teacher marciobarbalho http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109677-going-through.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109676-native-speaker-says-he-dont-she-dont.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:09:15 GMT Hi all,

I always hear English native speakers say "He don't...." "She don't...." in the movies...I was wondering how come they would say that....obviously it's grammatically incorrect...they are native speakers...they should know that....could you please explain why it happens....?

Regards,

William ]]> Ask a Teacher Williamyh http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109676-native-speaker-says-he-dont-she-dont.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109675-help.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:37:18 GMT I cant think of a sentence for prone? Help with one? I cant think of a sentence for prone? Help with one? ]]> Ask a Teacher Unregistered http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109675-help.html http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109674-we-dedicated-broadcasting-stories-drama-interviews.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:25:37 GMT Hi, *We are dedicated to broadcasting stories, drama and interviews.* Should *broadcasting* be *broadcast*? Thanks. Hi,

We are dedicated to broadcasting stories, drama and interviews.

Should broadcasting be broadcast?

Thanks. ]]> Ask a Teacher fenglish http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/109674-we-dedicated-broadcasting-stories-drama-interviews.html