ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: IN SPEECH

Clive — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:34:03 GMT

Hi again,
If someone procrastinates constantly. I feel it is better for him to make a decision regarding this issue soon, but what I see is constant delay.

Can I say this regarding this person?

To this person, next time is later again Even after reading your explanation, this sentence still doesn't seem to make any sense to me. For one thing, isn't the next thing always later than the current thing, for everyone and not just for procrastinators?

I think you said that the word 'later' should be in quotes or in italics. How would I make it known when making a speech? The 'quote and unquote' method seems not to be appropriate here.
Why is saying 'Quote later unquote' not appropriate here?

I assume that you want to use quotes because you want to indicate that you are using the word 'later' in some special way. As I noted above, I don't understand what your special meaning is. Why not explain it?
eg Say this. To this person, next time is quote later unquote again. When I say 'later ' here, I mean . . . .

Best wishes, Clive

Re: IN SPEECH

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:38:51 GMT

Thank you, both of you.

If someone procrastinates constantly. I feel it is better for him to make a decision regarding this issue soon, but what I see is constant delay.

Can I say this regarding this person?

To this person, next time is later again

I think you said that the word 'later' should be in quotes or in italics. How would I make it known when making a speech? The 'quote and unquote' method seems not to be appropriate here.

Re: IN SPEECH

CalifJim — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:33:20 GMT

Anonymous
should be in quotation marks

Yes, or in italics.

Anonymous
Can we have a present perfect ...

Not usually. I can't think of a case like that. After you heard it, you have decided to come back again isn't correct.

Re: IN SPEECH

Clive — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:31:08 GMT

Hi,
I was listening to some types of speeches and have some questions.

1.When someone says this, does he have to make it known that it is quoted? Not if he doesn't want to. Such 'rules' are not governed by grammar. A teacher, for example, may insist that a student identify every quotation. I think the written version should be in quotation marks because not being in quotation marks doesn't make sense to me.

Next time is later again.<<< This doesn't make any sense to me. What does it mean?

2.Can we have a present perfect after a dependant clause like "After you heard it" in the past tense? It certainly sounds odd in this example. I can't think of another example in which it sounds OK, although I don't like to say an absolute 'No, never'.

After you heard it, you have decided to come back again. Thank you. Nice to see you all here again.

Best wishes, Clive

IN SPEECH

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:17:49 GMT

Hi,

I was listening to some types of speeches and have some questions.

1.When someone says this, does he have to make it known that it is quoted? I think the written version should be in quotation marks because not being in quotation marks doesn't make sense to me.

Next time is later again.

2.Can we have a present perfect after a dependant clause like "After you heard it" in the past tense?

After you heard it, you have decided to come back again. Thank you. Nice to see you all here again.