Search results for 'tag:Idioms tag:Present perfect' matching tags 'Idioms' and 'Present perfect'

Re: is in progress/on the way

MissMandy — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:32:52 GMT

The biggest error is that 51 will be followed by "st" instead of "th". You can tell because you would say it aloud "fifty-first". Also, "50 pages" does not need an article (a/an, or the) because it is plural, so that is correct, however, "51st page" will need the definite article "the" because it is singular and specific.

"In the way" means that it is an obstacle, "on the way" means it is in progress.

1. I have completed typing 50 pages and the 51st is in progress. (moved the word typing)
2. I have completed feeding data for 50 records and the 51st record is in progress/ is on the way.
3. I have completed 50 files and the 51st file is in progress/on the way.

Let me know if you'd like more reasoning behind the corrections. Good job with the present perfect and the idiom "on the way"! Those are both tricky.

Re: is in progress/on the way

MissMandy — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:32:36 GMT

The biggest error is that 51 will be followed by "st" instead of "th". You can tell because you would say it aloud "fifty-first". Also, "50 pages" does not need an article (a/an, or the) because it is plural, so that is correct, however, "51st page" will need the definite article "the" because it is singular and specific.

"In the way" means that it is an obstacle, "on the way" means it is in progress.

1. I have completed typing 50 pages and the 51st is in progress. (moved the word typing)
2. I have completed feeding data for 50 records and the 51st record is in progess/ is on the way.
3. I have completed 50 files and the 51st file is in progess/on the way.

Let me know if you'd like more reasoning behind the corrections. Good job with the present perfect and the idiom "on the way"! Those are both tricky.

Re: If you haven't .... I woud

CalifJim — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:24:01 GMT

Doesn't it bother you that a present perfect tense in an if clause is used with would?

Isn't the past usually used with would in that case?

It is unusual. The reason it's OK is that would like to (or would love to) is an idiom equivalent to want to (a present tense).

So it's like

I hope you've seen it, but if you haven't, I'd love to run it for you now. ~

I hope you've seen it, but if you haven't, I want to run it for you now.

Re: Native-speaker/native language

Tanit — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:03:57 GMT

Forbes

I remember listening to a radio programme about the varieties of forms of speech in Italy ... They simply change language like they change clothes without worrying about the status of their "home" speech.

There's some truth in that article. My parents, for instance, used to speak in Sardinian (not a dialect, but recognised as an endangered language by the UNESCO) when talking to each other or to their relatives, but they would only speak Italian with my brother and me. I grew up monolingual, and although I can understand Sardinian, I am unable to articulate a sentence that contains more than a few words!

Many people who speak both Italian and their dialect, although able to switch from the first to the second depending on the context, speak a form of Italian that I would classify as regional and sub-standard. I noticed that people from Southern Italy (I have little experience of Northern Italy) who speak also a dialect usually don't speak standard Italian, but a form of language deeply affected by their dialect. Accent is not an issue. I find some grammatical structures odd, as well as the choice of some verb modes, tenses and aspects (ex. past simple versus present perfect, indicative versus subjunctive), and have problems with some vocabulary (let alone idioms, of course). I am usually able to understand the general meaning, though.

Re: 3 idioms, and my sentences with them, could you take a look?

RayH — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:16:20 GMT

anglista2008
c) She's stolen the show (doubt: I can't come up with a situation in which we would use this idiom in the present perfect)

This one doesn't seem quite right but I can't put my finger on exactly why.

anglista2008
a) Oh come off it! Stop pulling my leg and tell me the truth!
b) She has pulled my leg again!
c) Hey guys, listen, why don't we pull Jim's leg (and play a joke on him) ? It's gonna be fun!

The first one is fine. The second two, not so much. I don't think I've ever heard this idiom used in this way. You might, however, hear someone say something like "She wasn't serious, she was just pulling my leg." I don't think you will ever hear it as used in c).

anglista2008
a) He has been foaming at the mouth all ~~for the whole~~ evening (doubt: I'm not sure if the use of the present perfect cont. is appropriate here)
b) He foamed at the mouth when his wife told him that she had been cheating on him. (VS He was foaming at the mouth, or VS has foamed at the mouth)
c) What did your dad say to this? He was foaming at the mouth when I told him (VS He foamed at the mouth)

The second two seem "off" somehow. I know that's not much help.
How about these modifications:
b) He started foaming at the mouth when his wife...
c) He started foaming at the mouth when I told him.

The correction in a) isn't because you are wrong. It just seems to sound better as modified.

anglista2008
a) Jack Nicholson stole the show in Batman. (question: is it possible to use this idiom as far as idioms are concerned?

I'm not clear what you are asking here.

As for your grammar questions, as always, I leave them to the grammar experts.

Re: 3 idioms, and my sentences with them, could you take a look?

Vorpar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:38:30 GMT

1. to steal the show

a) Jack Nicholson stole the show in Batman. (question: is it possible to use this idiom as far as idioms are concerned? question2: would it be better to use here the pres. perfect?)

I think this is fine, though when talking about movies (especially describing action), we usually use the present tense.
b) Slash is the one who always steals the show at Guns & Roses gigs (question: is "at" ok here?)

"at" is fine.
c) She's stolen the show (doubt: I can't come up with a situation in which we would use this idiom in the present perfect)
It could be used during the show, just after a breakthrough scene.

2. to pull sb's leg

a) Oh come off it! Stop pulling my leg and tell me the truth!

This looks fine.
b) She has pulled my leg again!
c) Hey guys, listen, why don't we pull Jim's leg (and play a joke on him) ? It's gonna be fun!

I don't think this idiom is commonly used without the gerund (in a).

3. to foam at the mouth

a) He has been foaming at the mouth for the whole evening (doubt: I'm not sure if the use of the present perfect cont. is appropriate here)
b) He foamed at the mouth when his wife told him that she had been cheating on him. (VS He was foaming at the mouth, or VS has foamed at the mouth)
c) What did your dad say to this? He was foaming at the mouth when I told him (VS He foamed at the mouth)

All of these look fine.

MAIN QUESTION: Are the above-written sentences perfectly OK, and how often do you use the above-mentioned idioms?

Stolen the show is commonly used, but I don't hear the others much at all.

3 idioms, and my sentences with them, could you take a look?

anglista2008 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:58:24 GMT

Hey there! Thanks for looking at my post.

I've been learning some new idioms recently, and here are my questions concerning them, and some sentences with them. Could you correct me, and answer my questions?

1. to steal the show

a) Jack Nicholson stole the show in Batman. (question: is it possible to use this idiom as far as idioms are concerned? question2: would it be better to use here the pres. perfect?)
b) Slash is the one who always steals the show at Guns & Roses gigs (question: is "at" ok here?)
c) She's stolen the show (doubt: I can't come up with a situation in which we would use this idiom in the present perfect)

2. to pull sb's leg

a) Oh come off it! Stop pulling my leg and tell me the truth!
b) She has pulled my leg again!
c) Hey guys, listen, why don't we pull Jim's leg (and play a joke on him) ? It's gonna be fun!

3. to foam at the mouth

a) He has been foaming at the mouth for the whole evening (doubt: I'm not sure if the use of the present perfect cont. is appropriate here)
b) He foamed at the mouth when his wife told him that she had been cheating on him. (VS He was foaming at the mouth, or VS has foamed at the mouth)
c) What did your dad say to this? He was foaming at the mouth when I told him (VS He foamed at the mouth)

MAIN QUESTION: Are the above-written sentences perfectly OK, and how often do you use the above-mentioned idioms?

thanks in advance,

best wishes,

Re: correct sentences 24/11

Teo — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:09:54 GMT

They won't smoke ever since they saw a film on lung cancer.

What does "won't" mean here?

Re: correct sentences 24/11

Teo — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:09:49 GMT

http://forums.eslcafe.com/student/viewtopic.php?t=22113&highlight=

Re: Present Simple or Present Perfect?

CalifJim — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:09:39 GMT

Anonymous
When I say, "I have got a car.", is it Present Simple or Perfect?

It's Present Perfect in form, but Present in meaning. have got is an idiom, so it doesn't exactly "follow the rules"!

I have got a car = I have a car.

I have got to leave soon = I have to leave soon.