Search results for 'tag:Dates tag:Tenses' matching tags 'Dates' and 'Tenses'

need grammar & tenses check plz

X_K — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:47:36 GMT

Can you please check this sentence?

Though he liked your magazine and has agreed that your offer is a good branding exercise, the ad rates are high and Iâm afraid we wonât be able to accommodate it within our budget.

Thanks a million!

tense in quotation marks and conditional

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:46:41 GMT

Hi,

1. Let us say this was in quotation marks. How would you validate the use of the underlined tense?

The people who built houses; their walls have crumbled, as if they had never been!

2. TWO more questions:

Does 'as if' in normal sentential situations mean the same as 'if', like here.

He splurged as if he had unlimited amount of money. -- this wouldn't be a good example to confirm my argument but this would be good though.
He would splurge as if he had unlimited amount of money. -- no. 2 conditional?

I meant to ask you this. Could we have the modal word 'would' in the if-clause? I think 'would' has a sense of (conditional??) past, so this would be good.
If you would bring cake, I would bring cola to the party.

Re: saddening/seeing

Clive — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:23:24 GMT

HI again,

Thanks Clive for your reply.But I am not convinced with your answer.I read this link posted on this site itself - http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/stat.htm . I can't open your link, although I can imagine what it says.
Here its mentioned we can not use "see" and "sadden" (which are stative verbs) in the progressive tense.
I wouldn't say that stative verbs can never take the progressive. However, I would say that they rarely do. In addition, verbs that are usually stative often also have non-stative meanings, in which case the progressive is OK.

The verb 'see' is an example of this.
If a lion walks into the room, you might say 'Oh, I see a lion', but you wouldn't say 'Oh, I am seeing a lion'.

However, there are other meanings of see that do not relate to perception. Look in your dictionary. eg
A: Is Mary seeing anyone special?
B: Yes, she's seeing Tom.
Here, the verb 'see' mean 'date', 'go out with'. The two people (A and B) are talking about whether Mary has a boyfriend.

eg 'I am seeing the doctor tomorrow' means I am visiting the doctor tomorrow, I have an appointment arranged with the doctor tomorrow.

So you are contradicting what I have learnt earlier from this forum itself,making me confused. One more question - You have mentioned an example "Marry is seeing the doctor tomorow". Is not "Marry will visit the doctor tomorow" a more correct way of expressing? Please explain See my comment above. Both my way (using 'see', and your way using 'visit') are fine. My way is probably much more commonly said. You can say things in English in a variety of ways.

'I am going to see/visit the doctor tomorrow' indicates a plan. (I suggest you have a look at the differences between future with 'will' and future with 'going to'.)
'I am seeing the doctor tomorrow' indicates that the arrangements are settled, eg I probably have already made an appointment.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Tenses

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:32:24 GMT

Thank you, Doll, for your help.

Is there a contracdiction in your answers?
YOUR RESPONSE:

My friend said that the city would raise taxes. I would say that this sentence is wrong...

AND THIS:
4) My friend said the city will/is going to raise taxes after July 7th.
My friend said that the city would be raising taxes after the date of July 7th.?? -- how would you rewrite this with shifting-back the tense when a future date is involved.

Hmm, it is simple. Changing the tenses will help you. My friend said that the city was going to/would raise taxes after July 7th. (Reported speech) You report the news to your friend so there is nothing wrong with tense change.

Re: Tenses

Doll — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:54:33 GMT

My try:

Uses of phrase "found out":
(the city is going to raise taxes and the action of raising taxes hasn't iniitated.)
1) I found out that the city is going to/will/is planning to raise taxes.
I don't see much difference with this:
I found out that the city ~~would~~ will raise taxes. The choice of tenses here depends on the meaning you want to give us. If you mean that there is a more planning in this situation, "going to or planning to " can be used. But I prefer "will" with find out because "will" means something more immeadiate or something decided or learned at the time of speaking.

(It's news that my friend is going to get married and he hasn't married.)
2) I found out my friend is going to/will/is planning to get married.
I don't see much difference with this:
I found out my friend ~~would~~ will get married. Hmm, here you know that he is going to get married. You have an initial informationa bout this so planning to or going to will be more proper.

Use of word "said":
3) My friend said that the city will/ is going to raise taxes.
I see a difference with this and the sentence below seems to be OKbut not as good as the above sentence Why? Is that because raising taxes is still in a planning stage and has not been instituted?
My friend said that the city would raise taxes. I would say that this sentence is wrong. "said that, found out that" is a past tense in form but their meanings is relarted with present events so you shouldn't use a past tense if you are talking about a present event. The difference between will and going to is simply can be explanied as I told you before. If you want a detailed information, search them in the search box above. You will find threads discussing it.
4) My friend said the city will/is going to raise taxes after July 7th.
My friend said that the city would be raising taxes after the date of July 7th.?? -- how would you rewrite this with shifting-back the tense when a future date is involved.

Tenses

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:54:10 GMT

Hi,
Please check these.
Uses of phrase "found out":
(the city is going to raise taxes and the action of raising taxes hasn't iniitated.)
1) I found out that the city is going to/will/is planning to raise taxes.
I don't see much difference with this:
I found out that the city would raise taxes.

(It's news that my friend is going to get married and he hasn't married.)
2) I found out my friend is going to/will/is planning to get married.
I don't see much difference with this:
I found out my friend would get married.

Use of word "said":
3) My friend said that the city will/ is going to raise taxes.
I see a difference with this and the sentence below seems to be OKbut not as good as the above sentence Why? Is that because raising taxes is still in a planning stage and has not been instituted?
My friend said that the city would raise taxes.
4) My friend said the city will/is going to raise taxes after July 7th.
My friend said that the city would be raising taxes after the date of July 7th.?? -- how would you rewrite this with shifting-back the tense when a future date is involved.

Re: Phd letter

Mr Wordy — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:58:46 GMT

A few suggestions below. Good luck!

The purpose of this letter is not only to describe my educational and professional background, but also to focus your attention on how motivated I am to ~~start~~ join the PhD programme in [] offered by your laboratory at [].

In [date], I graduated with an a Master's Research Degree in Computer Science, Telecommunications [?] and Engineering from the National Higher School of Computer Science and Systems Analysis at Mohammed V University (the first [if you mean "first" in terms of status then it would probably be better to say "leading"] engineering school in Morocco). In 2004 I obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science at the Faculty of Science of Mohammed V University in Rabat, and in 2002 I ~~finished~~ completed a university degree in Mathematics and ~~physics~~ Physics in at Mohammed I university in Oujda.

~~Actually~~ Currently I am working as a Networking Engineer in for Morocco Telecommunication after nearly 1 a year ~~in Alcatel-Lucent working~~ as an Intelligent Networks Engineer at Alcatel-Lucent's Moroccan R&D ~~research~~ centre. ~~and I am preparing myself to pursue a PhD in [].~~

~~The master of research Iâve studied~~ My Master's Degree was a preparation for multidisciplinary research ~~based on~~ in physics, electronics, and mathematical and computational ~~background~~ disciplines. ~~We were introduced to gain~~ I gained an insight into research ~~works~~ in several ~~topics~~ areas of engineering, information theory, telecommunications and other fields. ~~And I was always capable of providing an intense effort of adaptation and learning to successfully manipulate new notions and techniques.~~ I also demonstrated my capacity for hard work and my ability to successfully master new concepts and techniques.

I am aware of the challenge represented by choosing [], in terms of the need for adaptation to new tools and ~~manners of~~ research techniques; however I believe in my ability and will to point my scientific background and experience in ~~such a~~ multidisciplinary ~~and promising~~ research ~~area~~ as an indication a that this choice ~~that~~ best fits ~~best~~ my objectives and ambitions.

As [] University has important research activities in this area, I would like to be given the opportunity to be join one of its prestigious research groups. I am sure that my passion to for computer science and related research fields, along with my skills, knowledge and competence would make me a valuable member of your research team. Hence I would appreciate it if you would consider my application ~~for~~ ~~developing~~ to study for a PhD under your supervision.

I am at your service for further information and clarifications, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Re: Felt like...

Avangi — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:42:54 GMT

Hi Mad, With this scant context, it could be taken either way. It's pretty confusing.

"Friends" is plural. Was she paired with one particular guy?

Whom is she talking to? Her date??

"Felt" is past tense, but "is" is present tense. Is she still on the date with this guy (or guys) (or girls) when she makes this statement? (like maybe at the very end of it?)

Is Neil her main squeeze? (Sorry, my eyes are getting bad.) Is Nell her main squeeze? Who the h--- is Nell? (Is Lana a guy?)

Anyway, I'm assuming "tonight" is a noun rather than an adverb. "I had to explain about tonight." Not, "Tonight, I felt like I had to explain to Nell."

It's still "tonight" when she makes the statement. It sounds like Nell is not present. If she has already explained to Nell, she must have covered a lot of ground.

But on the other hand, we don't know what it is she wants to explain. Did she feel she had to explain what happened tonight, or did she feel (in the past) that she had to explain that she was planning to go on a date without him/her??

If she's talking to the guy and they're still on the date, maybe it's, "I felt like I had to explain to Nell, but, you know what? I don't feel that way any longer." Maybe she's just telling him that she feels wierd about having felt obligated to tell Nell all her private business.

Or maybe she's warning "him" that this "date" is no secret from Nell, because she felt obligated to tell her/him.

You're asking me, "Did Lana explain to Nell about tonight?" I'll tell you. I don't know.

Tenses

Anonymous — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:27:45 GMT

Hi,

Please tell me if tenses are proper.

1.Setting a meeting date:

Hi, I was told that Jane and Joe agreed to have the next meeting on January 16th as I had suggested in the letter I wrote on Janurary 2nd. I feel had I had suggested the date of January 18, they wouldn't have agree to that date since it is likely that they would (not 'wil' correct??)l be going on a trip on that day.

2. Planning for a task:

I am going to work on this project on 2 p.m. this afternoon after I finish lunch. It will most likely take two hours to complete and I know that my uncle will be coming home at 3 p.m. When my uncle comes home, it is likely I will be working on my project and he will be coming in in the middle of my working on it. When my grand father comes home at 6 p.m. I will be no longer working on my project but I would have long finished my project and would have been sitting in my sofa, sipping a cold cup of cola, watching my favorite soap drama. I am looking forward to the time when I will be sitting in my sofa doing what I always like to do, sipping cola and watching my favorite soap.

Re: NOUN

Believer — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:55:17 GMT

Thank you, Avangi.

In my previous post, I should have used third-person verb tenses, 'sounds' and 'gives' -- proper subject-verb agreement wasn't made due to my carelessness.

Going back to your request for examples of cases where I would feel something in quotes could not be used with an indefinite article becauss of its semantic meaning, I would have say that I can't think of any at this point in time.

Do you think anything in quotes is good a candidate as a typical (known-to-be??) uncountable noun?

Thank you.