UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum 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 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:13:23 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ cannot be http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164876-cannot.html Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:35:30 GMT inedible means cannot be eaten How about cannot be : 1. heard 2. seen Thank you. inedible means cannot be eaten

How about cannot be :
  1. heard
  2. seen
Thank you. ]]> Ask a Teacher Ju http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164876-cannot.html being encouraged vs are encouraged http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164875-being-encouraged-vs-encouraged.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:29:31 GMT "NHS staff are being encouraged to lie about their hours to make trusts appear to be compliant with the European working time directive, according to figures seen exclusively by HSJ."

What would be the difference if I changed to the present simple?

"..................are encouraged..............." ]]> Ask a Teacher ostap77 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164875-being-encouraged-vs-encouraged.html Requesting a supervised physical viewing of the exam? http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164874-requesting-supervised-physical-viewing-exam.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:53:21 GMT Hi there,
Is there any official term used for the situation I've given the tilte for? I hear we could also 'request a check', but just wondered if there was any specific term for it.





Thanks in advance. ]]> Ask a Teacher Mehrgan http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164874-requesting-supervised-physical-viewing-exam.html If / whether - When do to use these words? http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164873-if-whether-when-do-use-these-words.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:52:05 GMT > If; >> Whether; For example, in this sentence: "Could you tell me _*whether *_you have a juice?" Why I don't use "if" in this case?]]> Hi guys!

I would like to know when I use:
>> If;
>> Whether;

For example, in this sentence:
"Could you tell me whether you have a juice?"
Why I don't use "if" in this case?

I generally use "if". "Whether" is a new word for me...
Can you explain me when I use "Whether" and the difference between these two words?

Thanks again,

Emerson ]]> Ask a Teacher emogen http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164873-if-whether-when-do-use-these-words.html <![CDATA[I told her "I don't smoke"]]> http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164872-i-told-her-i-dont-smoke.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:45:16 GMT My grammar book says if the past's state is still true in the present in the direct speech, in the reported speech converted, both present tense and past tense are possible.
But I think if you say "I told her that I didn't smoke", it may be true only in the past not in the present(I smoked only in the past, not in the present), even though "I told that I don't smoke" can mean "I still don't smoke even now". Eveything is dependent on the context, but I'm curious about the general feeling when you hear them. What do you think?

ex)I told her "I don't smoke" => I told her that I don't(didn't) smoke.(in case of still smoking in the present) ]]> Ask a Teacher keannu http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164872-i-told-her-i-dont-smoke.html Please help http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164871-please-help.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:59:18 GMT Hi My thoughts are like this. At the present moment(now), say 9am. At 8am, Tom expressed his thought on an earlier event at 7am. At 7am, parents had a dialogue with the school principal about the use of ipad for lessons. Could we... Hi

My thoughts are like this.

At the present moment(now), say 9am.

At 8am, Tom expressed his thought on an earlier event at 7am.
At 7am, parents had a dialogue with the school principal about the use of ipad for lessons.

Could we say now “He(Tom) believed(then) that the parents overreacted when the principal had made the announcement to use ipad for lessons.”

At the present moment, say 9am.

At 8am, Tom expressed his thought on an earlier event at 7am.
At 7am, parents had a dialogue with the school principal about the use of ipad for lessons. Parents were upset.

Could we say (now) “He (Tom) believed (then) that the parents had been upset by the principal’s announcement to use ipad for lessons.”

Thank you ]]> Ask a Teacher blissful http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164871-please-help.html <![CDATA[where're you heading to?]]> http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164870-wherere-you-heading.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:41:25 GMT When we bump into someone, apart from saying

"Hey, where're you going?"

can we say

"Hey, where're you heading? / heading to? "

thanks ]]> Ask a Teacher Tedwonny http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164870-wherere-you-heading.html is this correct? http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164869-correct.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:50:13 GMT Are both options possible? He gave me an 8. He gave an 8 to me. Are both options possible?

He gave me an 8.
He gave an 8 to me. ]]> Ask a Teacher allthewayanime http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164869-correct.html have been to/in a restaurant http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164868-have-been-restaurant.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:48:18 GMT I heard this from a native speaker,"Have you ever been in my office?". I wonder if I could say something like "I've never been in this restaurant." instead of "I've never been to this restaurant."? ]]> Ask a Teacher ostap77 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164868-have-been-restaurant.html Are these sentences natural? Feb 3 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164867-these-sentences-natural-feb-3-a.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:41:31 GMT Hi, Are the following sentences natural to a native ear? 1. My interpretation of how likely such an event is as follows :… 2. The only time I have been there was when I did a cruise there a couple of years ago. 3. She doesn’t think that...
Hi,

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?

1. My interpretation of how likely such an event is as follows :…

2. The only time I have been there was when I did a cruise there a couple of years ago.

3. She doesn’t think that there will be any more such incidences.

Thanks,
MG. ]]> Ask a Teacher musicgold http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164867-these-sentences-natural-feb-3-a.html <![CDATA[[Essay] need some feedbacks regarding my information sheet]]> http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/editing-writing-topics/164866-need-some-feedbacks-regarding-my-information-sheet.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:56:10 GMT TASK: Your boss has asked you to write the draft of an information sheet that will be given to new employees at your place of work. Following our meeting last week on how to help new members of staff settle in, can you put together some... TASK:
Your boss has asked you to write the draft of an information sheet that will be given to new employees at your place of work.
Following our meeting last week on how to help new members of staff settle in, can you put together some ideas for an information sheet called 'Information for new employees'.

Please let me have your draft by tomorrow.

Write your information sheet. (Around 220-260 words).






INFORMATION FOR NEW EMPLOYEES

Welcome to Gauss Ltd.,one of the most important company in Romania and a leader in its field of activity-land surveing.In the lat 20 years,Gauss international recognition icreased due to its employees.As an effect of being well known ,we decided to hire new people.Here as some information for them( or for you ??):


STRUCTURE OF COMPANY
To date,our company numbers around 200 employees and is divided in 2 departaments,Topography and Geodesy,each of them having a manager who is subordonated to a general manager.Among our facilities we have 2 Human Resourses Offices ,and here our personnel can ask for advices and information in case they needed.If you work in the Departament of Geodesy,please adressed to Ms.Ana Smith;his office is located on 2nd floor,number 201.Her opposite number,in Department of Topography, is Ms.Jane Terry.


HOURS OF WORK
Programme starts at 9 o'clock and end at 5 o'clock(nine'to'five job) and every employee must clock in and clock out.Our company do not encouraged overtime.However if,for any kind of reasons,you decided to stay overprogramme,you should not clock out at 5 but when you leave.Every overtime hour is paid with 20 $,twice the normal hour rate.


DRESS CODE
Our employees will receive an uniform in first day at work and wearing those is optional.Please be awear we do not accept sports clothes or imoral appereance.


PROCEDURES FOR ABSCENCES
As I said earlier,our employees have to established rapport with our Human Resources personnel in any case.Furthermore,if medical problems appears ,we strongly recommend to visit our doctor before going to another one(we need to know the conditon of our workers).Obviously,it is free of charge.


For further information,please do not hesitate to contact me or any of my colleagues from the Human Resources Office.
]]> florin1990 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/editing-writing-topics/164866-need-some-feedbacks-regarding-my-information-sheet.html difference between words http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164865-difference-between-words.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:55:56 GMT Hi everyone I have three question: 1- what difference between ghost , spirit , soul and Phantom ?? 2- what difference between dress , put on , wear ?? 3- what difference between boss , chairman , administrator , master , cheif , manager and... Hi everyone

I have three question:
1- what difference between ghost , spirit , soul and Phantom ??
2- what difference between dress , put on , wear ??
3- what difference between boss , chairman , administrator , master , cheif , manager and head ??
:-?
Thank you very much! ]]> Ask a Teacher borhan_3010 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164865-difference-between-words.html <![CDATA[[Vocabulary] bee's knees usage (UK/US)]]> http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164864-bees-knees-usage-uk-us.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:18 GMT I am watching a film and I came across this dialogue:

BrE speaker: Now, remember, you are the bee's knees.
AmE speaker *confused*
BrE speaker: It's a good thing.

Is it used only in BrE? Does an ordinary AmE speaker know what it means? Is there any AmE equivalent? ]]> Ask a Teacher SirGod http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164864-bees-knees-usage-uk-us.html a Scale of 1 to 10 http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164863-scale-1-10-a.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:08:03 GMT Is it correct to say 'a scale of 1-10' or ' a scale from 1 to 10'? ]]> Ask a Teacher allthewayanime http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/164863-scale-1-10-a.html <![CDATA[[General] Could you please correct my English?]]> http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/editing-writing-topics/164862-could-you-please-correct-my-english.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:55:35 GMT Could you please correct my English? Thank you in advance!

Today day it was raining all day.Therfore we went to outside very late.

The first we went to the library. I was surprised how many English books there was. I found Regan's diary. I am very happy.

After that we went to festival. The students, schooolchilds and teachers made a beautiful sculpture which burned very nice warm light. The most of the sculpture depicted the dragons.

After we went to see the performance of the Taiwan's artist. I have to say that it was amazing. What was the most interested the biggest bravo got the more terrible performer. I have to concede that Taiwan's people are very polite. My countrymen would allowed to know him very fast by jeers.

Unfortunetly it was finish about 10 pm.

The next we came back to the home.

I hope that there is not a lot of mistakes. ]]> CamillusAugust http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/editing-writing-topics/164862-could-you-please-correct-my-english.html