an inauspicious beggining - try and fail

[vil]

Dear teacher,

Today morning I got into trouble by my attempt to fill gaps in the following quiz, focusing on the simple present and present perfect tenses.

Things (change) ............. a great deal at Coltech. Inc. When we first (start) ............ working here three years ago, the company (have, only) ........... six employees. Since then we (expand) ...........to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

I tried but failed. Despite my desire and persistent effort I couldn't make it completely.

Things have changed a great deal at Coltech,Inc. When we first started
working here three years ago, the company ..................six employees. Since then we have expanded to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

Would you be kind to tell me the proper decision for the third gap.

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

 

[beascarpetta]

Dear Vil,

When we first started
working here three years ago, the company only had six employees[because a clearly defined point of time in the past is referred to ="three years ago").

regards,
beascarpetta

 

[Amigos4]

Dear teacher,

Today morning (This morning) I got into trouble by my attempt to fill gaps in the following quiz, focusing on the simple present and present perfect tenses.

Things (change) ............. a great deal at Coltech. Inc. When we first (start) ............ working here three years ago, the company (have, only) ........... six employees. Since then we (expand) ...........to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

I tried but failed. Despite my desire and persistent effort I couldn't make it completely.

Things have changed a great deal at Coltech,Inc. When we first started
working here three years ago, the company ..................six employees. Since then we have expanded to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

Would you be kind (kind enough) to tell me the proper decision for the third gap.(?)

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

Hi, vil!

Sorry to hear that you had difficulty with your quiz. Next time, give us a 'heads-up' before the quiz and we'll see what we can do to better prepare you.

Beascarpetta's reply is correct. But, please allow me to put on my mentor's cap as I offer you my friendly 'red correction pencil' for some of your phrasing. Please refer to the red comments I made to your original post.

Best wishes!

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[David L.]

What was the problem you were having deciding, which is even more important to sort out than just having the right answer.

 

[Amigos4]

What was the problem you were having deciding, which is even more important to sort out than just having the right answer.

Nice catch, David!

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[vil]

Hi beascarpetta,

Thank you for your prompt and clear reply.

I am sorry for my lack of knowledge. I shouldn't allow such boring mistake to slip in. I couldn't find the proper place of the adverb "only". My mistaken decision was

...working here three years ago, the company had only six employees.

and as result, the computer answered me "wrong".

Thank you again for your attention and kindness.

Regards.

V.

 

[vil]

Hi Amigos4,

I am sorry for this "bewitched" morning. Openly, the present day isn't my day. But what are friends for?

Thank you for your readiness to help me. I am enormously in your debt for your precise surgical intervention. Thank you also for your salutary "red correction pencil". Let's hope that you might see the fruit of your mentor's work even at the present my post.

Thank you again for your attention and marked politeness.

Regards.

V.

 

[Amigos4]

Hi beascarpetta,

Thank you for your prompt and clear reply.

I am sorry for my lack of knowledge. I shouldn't allow such boring mistake to slip in. I couldn't find the proper place of the adverb "only". My mistaken decision was

...working here three years ago, the company had only six employees.

and as result, the computer answered me "wrong".

Thank you again for your attention and kindness.

Regards.

V.

...working here three years ago, the company had only six employees.

Vil, fear not, my friend! The mistake you made is so slight that hardly any native speaker would have noticed it! You still receive an 'A' for effort!

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[Amigos4]

Hi Amigos4,

I am sorry for this "bewitched" morning. Openly, the present day isn't my day. But what are friends for?

Thank you for your readiness to help me. I am enormously in your debt for your precise surgical intervention. Thank you also for your salutary "red correction pencil". Let's hope that you might see the fruit of your mentor's work even in my present post.) at the present my post.

Thank you again for your attention and marked politeness.

Regards.

V.

I certainly understand the impact of a 'bewitched' morning! I like your use of the word! Let's hope that your evening is more heavenly!

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[vil]

Hi DavidL,

I am sorry, but the present day definitely isn't my day.In contrast to your other posts this one was written in my opinion in an enigmatic style. Believe it or not but I couldn't catch on the meaning of your post.

Would you be kind enough to rephrase the written from you in the present post in order to be able to catch the point?

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards.

V.

 

[beascarpetta]

Hi beascarpetta,

Thank you for your prompt and clear reply.

I am sorry for my lack of knowledge. I shouldn't allow such boring mistake to slip in. I couldn't find the proper place of the adverb "only". My mistaken decision was

...working here three years ago, the company had only six employees.

and as result, the computer answered me "wrong".

Thank you again for your attention and kindness.

Regards.

V.

Dear Vil,

I felt quite honoured to be able to suggest a solution you would most

certainly have figured yourself.
(That computer over there does react in a rather strange way to any input whatsoever.)

By the way,may I add that I feel quite relieved you do not harbour any

grudge (because pernickety me interfered with your expertise

concerning the anatomy of the knee)

and that I'm also very impressed by your fabulous command of the English

language.
See you,
beascarpetta

 

[vil]

Dear beascarpetta,

Thank you for your making more precise post.

Thank you again for suggestion of very necessary decision.

You can rest assured that I don't harbor any grudge towards you. What would prompted me to do this? On the contrary, I cherish the best feeling towards you, as well as towards all the rest of the NES' , who I take for my brothers-in-arm.

I accept your slight and sprightly humor on the brink of your last post as a friendly pat on the back. That was a pat which come just on pat. (that was a attempt for making a "pun" . Maybe an abortive pun.)

Regards.

V.

 

[beascarpetta]

Dear Vil,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply -I can assure you I very much appreciate your sense of humour.

If I should ever have any medical questions,may I turn to you for digital advice ?:-D (I probably would not be able to raise the money for house calls :-D)

I do hope that today you will be more fortunate in tackling those rather complicated exercises.(or did you finish all of the questions yesterday?)

all the best,
beascarpetta

 

[vil]

Hi beascarpetta,

I think you overrated my medical knowledge. Nevertheless, you can assure, you wouldn't be charged if there should be a professional visit made to your house. A friend in need is friend in deed.

Your supposition has already transformed in a practical result. I brought home the bacon. You shouldn't supplement the last sentence as explanatory compliment of the former one because I know to a certain extent the meaning
of "tackling".

Don't worry, I'm an inexhaustible source of questions. You can see the thread "incomprehensible sentence". I'd appreciate it if you get your's teeth into this question and try your fortune to explain to me the implied meaning of the sentence in bold.

Thank you in advance for your effort.

Regards.

V.

 

[beascarpetta]

Dear Vil,

I'd be delighted and thank you for even suggesting it,but I'll have you know that both my mother and my brother think you are a surgeon.

May I , since friends should help each other , just as an afterthought, whisper

that
Nevertheless, you can rest assured/I can assure you

might be other ways of expressing the very same thought ?

I can't wait for your next question since both Anglika and David L. seem to have said it all concerning "uncomprehensible sentence"

see you,
beascarpetta

 

[vil]

Hi beascarpetta,

Thank you for your considerate correction concerning the expression "to be assured of", which was maimed of me. I think there is another possibility expressing the mentioned before thought as a afterthought of me, namely. " I can give my assurance that you wouldn't be charged".

I am sorry that I couldn't come up to your expectation. I'm not Dr. Carter.

There is a cold comfort for you that you would have the chance to do operation with my crippled English sentences. I promise to be your duteous patient.

Regards.

V.