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

Re: tense checking

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:07:32 GMT

Thank you. It will take some time to reflect upon your response. As to your question of where I wanted to put a semicolon, it was in the underlined part. I was pretty sure a semicolon is appropriate but wanted to confirm.

You changed the tense of the last sentence to present perfect; (semicolon OK?) but I don't think a past is wrong but a present tense is better because the choice made is current and currently related.

Re: tense checking

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:39:27 GMT

Thank you so much.

How would you divide this type of writing (diary or reflection piece?) into paragraphs, especially when the content of a possible paragraph is two or thre sentences long?

You asked:

I am starting to work on my two-month project on ~~today~~ this afternoon;, and when my nephew gets here, I will probably have finished half the project.Tenses are okay. You can finish half of a two-month project in one day?

I think the probable date I noted for his visit is one month from the day of writing and I think I also have noted that the probable period of completion will last two months. What made you think the writing gives out an idea that I will try to finish the project in one day?

You changed the tense of the last sentence to present perfect; (semicolon OK?) but I don't think a past is wrong but a present tense is better because the choice made is current and currently related.

Last sentence that you made a change:

Yes, I have made the choice and that is to finish the project on time.

questions on sentences

Believer — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:22:50 GMT

Please answer the following questions.

1. Is this the correct use of a semicolon? I don't think the clause after the semicolon can stand on its own.

When did you last hear about it? Some said never; others said not since they left home.

2. Why is it have to be past perfect? Is that because there is the word 'before'? How does it affect? I think the past tense would work well too. Can the present perfect tense work here?

1. It can be used to help parents reach their children in ways they had never imagined before.

I think this can be rewritten into this:

2. It can be used to help parents reach their children in ways they never imagined before.

3. It can be used to help parents reach their children in ways they never have imagined until now.

Re: tense

Tung Quoc — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 16:45:37 GMT

Hi,

You wrote:

Generally, when using the present perfect tense, we are not specific RE: when the action occured. (1)

I think the correct sentence is:

Generally, when using the present perfect tense, we are not specific RE when the action occured.

Am I right? "Re" is a preposition, so why did you use a colon in (1)?

Sorry, I still don't understand what we are not specific RE mean?Why didm't you write:

We don't specific Re....

If specific is an adjectif,specific describes we, so why is there re/about?

I don't understand.

Please analyse we are not specific re when the action occured ????

Re: why?

Clive — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:30:53 GMT

Hi,

1. You will not have heard of me before but I used to live next door to your sister.
2. That is absurd; they really could not have taken your motorbike by mistake, surely?
3. You are a bit overweight; you should have been doing more regular exercise.
4. You were to have been promoted.

questions:
1. Why using this modal: will; why not You might have ... ? 'will' is definite, 'might' is not definite'.
2. Why is there a question mark at the end; why is it not a full stop? 'Surely' is often used in speech to convert a statement into a question. (In addition, and personally, I'd replace the semi-colon with a period.)
3. Why using present perfect continuous? why not You should be doing or should do ... . The continuous form stresses duration ie exercise over a prolonged period.
4. What tense is it?

'You were (to ...) ' indicates past necessity, eg I was to call Tom yesterday. There is a strong implication that the event did not happen, eg I didn't call Tom.

'to have been promoted' is the perfect passive infinitive.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: To Pedanticus

MrPedantic — Tue, 18 Jan 2005 13:47:43 GMT

Hello Sextus

Here you go:

1) âThe past few years have witnessed the publication of a considerable number of books and papers on the influence that ancient scepticism (broadly defined) [has] exerted upon early modern philosophy.â
You suggest here the present perfect. But as Iâm referring to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it sounds strange to me.
- Sorry, you're quite right. I hadn't allowed for context.

2) âThere have been two main reactions to this work: some scholars have regarded Popkinâs view about the decisive import of scepticism in moulding modern philosophy and science as exaggerated, whereas others have sought to reinforce his thesis either by deepening the study of the role played by scepticism in figures discussed by him, or by revealing the influence of scepticism in other modern thinkers.â
First, I used âto regardâ, but maintained the present perfect.
- Fine!
Second, with regard to âdeepening the studyâ, maybe I should say âdeepen the understandingâ. But I preferred to employ âstudyâ, but I donât know which verb I should use.
- 'either by further study of the role'?

3) âHere Paganini seems to interpret the notion of phainomenon as used by Sextus as referring exclusively to any appearance deriving from sensory perception, assimilation he explicitly operates later on (72-73, 74)â. [last clause odd - âan assimilation he explicitly operates on laterâ?].
I donât understand whether by adding âanâ before âassimilationâ, the sentence is correct, or whether I should rewrite the whole clause.
- Adding 'an' is better. I do find it difficult to get a meaning here; though maybe a specialist would have no trouble.

4) âThere are few passages of Sextusâ work where this term is restricted to the realm of sensory perception, the most relevant of these is probably Pyrroneioi Hypotyposeis (PH) I 8-9.â
I used âfewâ because I believe there are not many passages where that happens. I donât know how you would say it. In any case, I donât understand what you mean by saying that that word has a ânegativeâ sense.
- 'I've found few bookshops that sell the works of Sextus E.' - negative: the speaker regrets the fact.
- 'I've found a few bookshops that sell the works of Sextus E.' - positive: the speaker is quite pleased. It's 'half empty vs half full'.
So here, I think you want 'a few'; probably with a semi-colon after 'perception'.

5) âNow, it is clear that the appearances the Pyrrhonist has in virtue of his natural capability to think, the laws and customs of his community, and the skills he has gained are not sensory appearances.â
> 'by virtue of'?
I'm not sure 'has' is strong enough here. It has an auxiliary air.

6) âThough I agree with his interpretation, I think that sometimes he either disregards some facts, or is not entirely fair to some of the scholars with whom he discusses. Indeed, Gisela Striker adopts this view in some of her papersâ.
First, you proposed âdebates these questionsâ, but actually Iâm not referring to any issues, so Iâve preferred to use âto discussâ without any object.
- 'discuss' without direct object sits oddly here. 'engages'?

Second, you suggested âseveralâ instead of âsomeâ. Then I added âof herâ in order to keep âsomeâ, because the papers are three.
- fine!

See you
MrP