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

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: Any + singular/Any + plural

Kooyeen — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:46:22 GMT

Hey, I once asked the same question here! LOL
The truth is "any" and "some" are difficult to understand, there are a lot of exceptions. I was told that in cases like those it's best to use the singular "in any dictionary". But I actually think that the plural is not wrong, and it's ok if you expected to find that word in more than one dictionary. Hmm... I am confused again now! Grr! I would ask "Did you find it in any dictionaries?" and then answer "No, I didn't find it in any dictionary". Plural in the question, singular in the answer. I wonder if that actually makes sense.

As for the other question, all your versions are ok, but the use of the present perfect "haven't been able" might imply you haven't given up searching yet, or that the fact you wasn't able to find it is relevant now for some reason... in other words, you need to know the difference between the present perfect and the simple past. In your example, I would choose the simple past, sice there seems to be no reason to use the present perfect.

You'd better wait for some native speaker if you want a definite answer about "any" though.

Re: has been based

Clive — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:36:25 GMT

Hi,

British troops had been based in Basra city since the Iraq war began in 2003. The country handed over security control to Iraqis late last year, but still maintains a presence in Basra province.

Shouldn't it be "has' instead of 'had' since the troops are still stationed in Basra?

The past perfect places the fact before some time in the past. That time may be the time that 'the country handed over . . ', or it might be some other time mentioned earlier in the context that we do not have here.

You could use the present perfect, but that changes the meaning by relating the the fact to the present time. if you choose to do this, say 'have' and not 'has' because the word 'troops' is plural.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Questions on sentences in article

Susankay — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:32:29 GMT

When we talk with biblical precision about the resurrection, we discover an excellent foundation for lively and creative Christian work in the present world--not, as some suppose, for an escapist or quietist piety.

Here, the word 'piety' seems to be uncountable, yet seems that the article 'an' is for that. Why? This is a general question but "Can a person use an indefinite article like 'a' when he thinks an instance of something or a type of something in his mind? I think it should be "or for quietist piety.'

No single individual can attempt more than a fraction of this mission. That's why mission is the work of the whole church, the whole time. Paul's advice to the Philippians ~~even though he and they knew they were suffering for their faith and might be tempted to retreat from the world into a dualistic, sectarian mentality~~was upbeat. Might just means "there was the possibility for them to be tempted"

Here, I think it is right to say that in 'might be tempted', the 'might' is used to convey the sense of the past, putting his indecisive intention in the past-time setting; but I think it is safe to say that the word 'might' can be used the same or similarly in the present-time setting. But here, I think it is used in the in the past-time setting. I think you can see a similar use with the modal verb 'would'.

It is the anticipation of the time when God will fill the earth with his glory, transform the old heavens and earth into the new, and raise his children from the dead to populate and rule over the redeemed world he has made.

Here, I think 'he has made' is used because eventhough the reference is to what was made a very, very long time ago, the happening carries a current relevance to what the writer is tryng to say and that is why the present perfect was used. Right? Why do I see 'heavens' in plural, not 'heaven' in singular? The redeemed world he has made - yes it denote present perfect.

This is another question: Can you use a present perfect to refer to a historical figure who happened to live very, very long ago or his legacy?

Yes, if your believe that historical figure is God who lived, is living and will live forever.

Questions on sentences in article

Believer — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:49:28 GMT

Hi,

I gotthe following sentences from the ChristianToday magazne, a magazine of evangelical conviction, by N.T. Wright on March 25, 2008, and hope you would answer some questions on them.

This is another question: Can you use a present perfect to refer to a historical figure who happened to live very, very long ago or his legacy?

Sorry for many questions

Re: Picture me a time line

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:10:38 GMT

Thank you, Pieanne. I think the original post would likely show that it was an accidental typo and should be the "present perfect." I think the full sentence would look something like this and I figure that "it" here serves no real function, except assuming a dummy part.

Most of their memories go back to the dark 80s and 90s when it has been decline and carnage.

Also, why would it be "has been" rather than "have been" (in plural)?

Re: Present and past perfect

Philip — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:44:41 GMT

Kooyeen wrote:
Hi,
I already asked about this, apparently I didn't understand or got no answer. Here:

There's a guy who's trying to run through a wall of flames with his bicycle, completely naked. He starts, he passes through the flames, he succeeds. Everyone applaudes. After a few minutes, after he get dressed, I go congratulate him. What should I say?

Congratulations man, that was great! [~~I've~~/I'd] never seen [~~someone~~/anyone] do that completely naked!

I need some advice on the possible ways to say that. Thanks

Many would use the present perfect because of the closeness of the time of the action. Technically speaking, however, I think the past perfect is more correct.

['anyone' because of the preceding negative 'never']

[for some reason, 'congratulations' is generally used in the plural]

Re: Present perfect and simple past??

Yoong Liat — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:58:34 GMT

Hi Jim

"The milkman have ... " Please note that 'have' is a plural verb. So, it should be "The milkman has ... " and "The milkmen have ... "

Re: grammer Question important

Clive — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 22:19:49 GMT

Hi,

present perfect active and passive, could somebody explain me than
with examples very easily.... in baby words, because im really lost.

Instead of explaining, I'll give you simple examples.

present perfect active Mary has fixed my car.

present perfect passive My car has been fixed (by Mary).

and Floods has brought chaos. The has doesnt sound right, could someone
explain me that as well.... It's not right. 'Floods' is plural. You need to say Floods have brought chaos.

soon as possible, i have a test tomorrow Did you give any thought to asking us three days ago, when we would have had more time to explain to you, and you would have had more time to think about our comments? Please try to do that, next time.

Best wishes, Clive