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

Re: Can someone check the gammar, please?

Pjlusk83 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:57:43 GMT

Hello,
I am going to put my suggestions and corrections next to your words, but they will be in bold, in paraenthese, and on the right side of the word(s) so you know which word and what my suggestion is. Is that ok with you? Tell me what you think. Also, in case you did not notice, you seem to writing an article, so this needs to be kept in second or third person. I will not correct but a few tenses of first to second or third because I feel you would understand better if you studied that better yourself, and I am not an English major and am afraid of leading the wrong path, but I will do what I know without hesitation. I hope this helps you out with whatever you are doing.
Penny

sebayanpendam

Health is indisputably(eminently) important to all of us (most individual instead of "all of us" using "all of us" is considered wordy). Good health enables us(people) to carry out our(their) daily routine with a positive view of life. There are many ways we can do to keep good health(a number of ways to keep in good health).

First, we should practise(practice) good eating habits and do not overeat.(take out and do not over eat, instead write something like: First, we should practice good eating habits, such as eating in moderation/ or watching our food intake) We must drink lots of water so that we will not get exhaustion easily(here is an idea:Second, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and early exhaustion) Drinking water does not mean we need to drink eight glasses a day.(remove the period, add a semicolon ;) It depends on how much we need to spend our energy on things that we do. Besides, it is advisable to drink fruit and vegetable juices.(remove the period, add a semicolon ;) These juices provide essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. As a result, our immune systems will strengthen too(remove too) and our bodies can resist many diseases.

Another way to (suggestion: remove "Another way to" and replace with: Third,)maintain our healthy bodies is exercise regularly. Exercise is very important to keep us fit. Aside from burning off fat, exercise helps make(remove make) our blood circulation (circulate)better. (This small paragraph is completely out of place, you are jumping from eating and drinking, to exercise then back to eating and drinking. Move this paragraph under your paragraph about smoking because it fits nicely with your last sentences.)

There are things that we must avoid when it comes to food. Do not take food that have(suggestion: ...when it comes to food. Try not to ingest a lot of food that is high in...) high fat, sugar and salt content such as fried chicken, junk food, carbonated (adding the word beverages will make more sense here). Taking too (Ingesting too)much of unhealthy food can lead to diseases like(such as) heart disease and diabetes. (add this paragraph just after the final sentence of your second paragraph: As a result, our immune systems will become stronger and our bodies can resist many diseases)

(suggestion: Finally, avoid...)Avoid smoking because it contains nothing but harmful nicotine.(remove nothing but harmul nicotine, in this place put something like: because it contains over a hundred harmful chemicals) This property(habit) can destroy our lungs and even worse causes(remove the 's') cancer. Not only, smoking produces bad effects to smokers, but also harms non-smokers who are near them. (suggestion: ...cancer; smoking is also nearly as harmful to non-smokers through second hand smoke because the non-smokers catch half of the chemicals and also produce negative results to the non-smoker's body)

Healthy people can have longer lives and are more energetic (suggestion: Healthy people can live longer, more energetic lives). If we(you) really love ourselves(yourself), we should start change our eating habits and take exercise right now before it is too late. (then watch your habits for any need of change and begin living health today!) (suggestion, a quote about living healthy by anyone famous, try this google search http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS288&q=famous+health+quotes

Thanks

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

Grammar Geek — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:10:20 GMT

I should have edited the post - they are clearly related, but the first three seemed unrelated to each other.

I broke them into each line so I could comment one by one.

I think the probable date I noted for his visit is one month from the day of writing

You wrote, "If I sleep one more day, I will be meeting my nephew who will be visiting us from the Phillipines." That sounds like he is coming tomorrow to me. How could I guess that it's actually another month away? You wrote that he's coming home "for a month vacation." It sounds like he's coming tomorrow, and staying for one month.

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 said that he comes tomorrow, and you are starting today - so naturally that sounds like you'll do one month's worth of work in one day.

Yes, you made the decision quite recently. The present tense is appropriate. If you used the past, the entire thing should be written in a past tense, not the present.

Where did you want to use the semi-colon?

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.

1)How can we correct the sentence:

Belly — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:19:06 GMT

1)How can we correct the sentence:

When the eggs hatch, the young turtles go off to take care of themselves, being that female turtles do not nurture their young

a) add "on the other hand" at the beginning

b) insert " as a result" at the bginning"

c) change the comma to semicolon

d) change "hatch" to "hatched"

e) change "being that"-> "because"

The answer was e. But I have never seen a "because" after comma

2) The meaning of his words was even more elusive in his own country than either Europe or Latin America ( the underscore is a wrong phrase)

Can we replace the underscored phrase with "either in Europe or Latin Am" or " in either Europe or Latin Am"?

3) On my preparing for exam, I came up with this sentence:

Spot the error:

Kelly is proud of her own abilities to mediate disputes more than any of her other strength. No error

The answer was C ( as the book says) but here is its explanation:

"Does the subordinate clause fit within the context of the sentenc? ( A) uses the correct verb tense and the verb agrees w/ subject Kelly. (B) shows the correct feminine sing. pronoun, referring to Kelly (C) shows the correct infi. form of the verb mediate.

So what is the answer??

4) here is part of a math question I couldn't find out why:

Which is the graph of y= -(x-2)2 (2 outside the bracket means square)?

Graphs drawn below.

And here was the solution:

If f(x) = -x2 , the given equation, y= -(x-2)2, represents f(x-2)

How come they got the last line?

Memos show Clinton turmoil

Jackson6612 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:05:10 GMT

Memos show Clinton turmoil

Question: I would have written ''Clinton's turmoil''. Why didn't the author use apostrophe?

BY CRAIG GORDON AND TOM BRUNE | <email addresses removed by mod.>
August 13, 2008

Question: Why is semicolon used instead of comma to separate the email addresses above?

WASHINGTON - In a fresh postmortem (=an examination of a plan or event that failed, done to discover why it failed, =autopsy) on Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid (=attempt to obtain or do something), newly published staff memos (=a short official note to another person in the same company or organization) and e-mails reveal a campaign hobbled (=to hobble something or someone means to make it more difficult for them to be successful or to achieve what they want) by internal rivalries (=a situation in which two or more people, teams, or companies are competing for something), faulty planning, bloated (=more than needed, =excessive) spending - and perhaps most important, Clinton's own failure to make the hard decisions.

Clinton offered herself to voters as a hyper-competent (=extra competent) executive ready to be president from day one. But atop (=on top of something) her own campaign, she was a hesitant leader, who allowed bitter infighting (=when members of the same group or organization argue, or compete with each other in an unfriendly way) to fester (=If an argument or bad feeling festers, it continues so that feelings of hate or dissatisfaction increase) among staffers over whether to go negative against Barack Obama, according to the Atlantic magazine.

The most bare-knuckled (=characterized by disorderly action and disregard for rules) lines of attack came from Clinton's chief strategist, Mark Penn, who urged Clinton to highlight Obama's "lack of American roots" due to his upbringing in Indonesia and Hawaii - saying he could only win if he faced Attila the Hun ((?406-453 AD) a king of the Huns (=an ancient people from Asia) who attacked and took control of large parts of the Roman Empire. He is famous for being violent and cruel).

But Clinton didn't embrace Penn's flag-waving (=the expression of strong national feelings, especially when these feelings seem too extreme) approach (=way of doing something), which campaign aides (=someone whose job is to help someone who has an important job, especially a politician) insist was never seriously considered.

Question: Clinton didn't embrace Penn's approach because she did not consider it seriously. Therefore, what campaign aides were saying is redundant.

The article also says that Clinton at times grew frustrated and short-tempered - including on the morning after her stunning third-place finish in Iowa in January, when aides on a call were silent. Clinton's camp dismissed the story as "inside-the-Beltway gossip" and "old news." And former campaign aides sharply disputed the notion of Clinton as an indecisive leader, with one campaign veteran saying, "Nobody seems to want to remember the fact that we had so many successes and come-from-behind victories in this campaign ... and they are due in large part to Senator Clinton's leadership."

Question: What does the line including on the morning...when aides on a call were silent mean? If she finished third place, then why would the author describe it as stunning? What does call mean in when aides on a call were silent?

Question: What does the phrase inside-the-Beltway gossip mean?

Question: What does the line Nobody seems to want to remember...to Senator Clinton's leadership'' mean?

But the e-mails and memos offer vivid (=very clear and detailed) new details about what had long been reported - that Clinton's headquarters was beset (=to make someone experience serious problems or dangers) by caustic (=bitter) internal battles involving Penn and former President Bill Clinton, who wanted to forcefully attack Obama, and others who wanted the New York senator to take a more positive tack (=method, =way of doing something). At one point, it was Bill Clinton - and not Hillary - who approved the famed 3 a.m. phone call ad.

Question: what had long been reported is passive past perfect tense. Am I right?

Question: I think headquarters should take plural verb. What do you say?

Question: Why are the hyphens used in -and not Hillary-? I believe commas would do instead?

Adding to the turmoil was the fact that the campaign had little strategy and no money left to seriously compete in the post-Super Tuesday contests - having (=the form having with a past participle can be used to introduce a clause in which you mention an action which had already happened before another action began) burned through $106 million before Iowa. That allowed Obama to win 12 straight contests and effectively wrap up (=to finish a job, meeting etc) the nomination.

Question: What does burned through mean?

In the end, the campaign's strategy came to reflect some of the internal turmoil, as Clinton veered (=changed course) from attacking Obama to emphasizing her personal side.

Question: What does her personal side mean?

Penn did offer some advice in March 2007 that proved on the mark - Clinton's path to victory lay with women and lower- and working-class voters.

Question: What does proved on the mark mean? I couldn't find it in the dictionary.

But by the time Clinton finally settled on that strategy to win the later primaries, it was too late.

Excerpts from the memos

"All of these articles about his boyhood in Indonesia and his life in Hawaii are geared towards showing his background is diverse, multicultural and putting that in a new light ... It also exposes a very strong weakness for him - his roots to basic American values and culture are at best (=even when considered in the most positive way) limited. I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his center fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values." Strategist Mark Penn, from a March 19, 2007, memo to Hillary Rodham Clinton advising her to attack Barack Obama for his "lack of American roots."

Question: What does centre mean in the above context?

"The right knows Obama is unelectable except perhaps against Attila the Hun, and a third party would come in then anyway." Penn, from the same memo.

Question: Does right refer to right wing in the above context?

"This has been a very instructive call, talking to myself." Clinton, before angrily hanging up on a staff conference call the day after coming in third in Iowa in January. "She complained of being outmaneuvered (=to gain an advantage over someone by using cleverer or more skilful plans or methods) in Iowa and being painted as the establishment candidate," according to the Atlantic - but was met with near-silence.

Question: I would have written This has been..., talking to me. Why did she use myself?

Question: What is a conference call? Is it some kind of telephone call which address many poeple?

Question: Why is in used in coming in third?

"STOP IT!! I have help my tongue for weeks. After this morning's WP story, no longer. This makes me sick. This circular firing squad that is occurring is unattractive, unprofessional, unconscionable, and unacceptable ... It must stop." Robert Barnett, a Clinton lawyer and Washington insider, from a March 6, 2008, e-mail to campaign staff after a Washington Post story detailed the infighting.

Question: What does I have help my tongue for weeks mean?

Question: What does This circular firing squad mean?

Question: Were the comments in the last paragraph made by Robert Barnett?

Sticky conditional question

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:20:20 GMT

Hi,
Some time back, I asked a question on conditionals and I think CalifJim said something like there are many tenses in the English language and it is possible to use any combination in the if and main clauses. Only three has names but any combination is possible. How can we check for correctness??

I think no. 1 would be definitely wrong. Ithink it should be "If you used ..., I would tell your mother." But others look very similar and I have an unable-to-explain-to-myself feeling that CalifJim might consider nos. 2-4 conditional and acceptable.

1.If you use a plastic spoon to hit your sister, I would tell your mother.
2. If you use a semicolon in the sentence again, I would point that out to your teacher.
3. If I use a plastic spoon to nudge your sister, would you tell that to your mother?
4. If I use a semicolon in the sentence again, would you point that out to my teacher?

See, I would have used a past tense in the if-clause to fit the second conditional model for all four like "If you used ..., I would ..." and dispense with the headache of having to think about their correctness; but afraid I might encounter them as a possibility in other people's writings and might find myself unable to figure out where they are coming from in terms of their conditional uses of the sentences.

Re: Plz Correct me !

Cute572 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:09:19 GMT

Thanks Goodman!

Could anyone tell me, in descriptive writing what tense usually writer choose.

And Guys please reply my 2nd post last two sentenses as well. And explain we can separate verb and subject i.e mirror and curtain, by using comma for emphasis like Feebs did?

Third sentence, I have made some changes. Please check this as well.

The soft curtain hanging and swinging [I am not using comma because it will separate both curtain Subject and hanging Verb] over the rood with moving winds and touching my chair [or desk] unintentionally. [This adverb is appropriate fits?]

Or following structure seemed less congested

The soft curtain hanging over a rood, and swinging with moving [can use melodious or rythemetic or some word instead of moving?] winds; [semicolon used here or comma ?] somehow, [comma is ok here?] unintentionally touches my chair at constant intervals. [puntucation is correct ?]

And what about this similar sentence grammar?

Above window, long rood holds the curtain from the upper edge of window. Is it ok to use and we would this underline part direct object ?

I request to explain each of these three versions with punctuation i used

Thanks !

Re: please correct this

Hoa Thai — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:55:47 GMT

I have a good piece of news to report: - a piece of good news?

Our Center just had a new computer room and bathroom installed. - Center - why capitalization?

came from the general contributions of our Mothers of Our Neighborhood Associations - general or generous?

and the local Business Men's Associations. â BMA - Why capitalization?

As you know, it took roughly three months to complete them and we, the staff at the Center, are happy to see them completed, â Could you reword your sentence without having to use âcompletedâ after âcompleteâ? I would also suggest that you replace the comma at the end with a full stop.

~~knowing how~~ They will help our children facilitate learning processes as they partake on our numerous academically oriented activities taught by certified teachers in their after-school hours. â The children do not facilitate the learning process, the staff do. You need to reword this sentence (shorten it or break it into two parts).

Well-built and built facilities â what do you mean?

can help maintain children's interest in their studiesâ need a full stop.

that has been one of my ~~fundamental~~ convictions â âhas beenâ? Show that your convictions are time independent.

that I held deeply for long as I was involved in this Center in various capacities. â Check verb tense! Did you forget another âasâ?

I also believe that our community has to take responsibility in providing good places to go to get supplementary education on our children's core courses once they are out-of-school;

1. has to take responsibility in â is responsible for?
2. The second part is too wordy. hint: for our children's after-school activities.
3. Replace semicolon with a full stop.

and we are proud to be one of those places. - we are the place?

A The new computer room with up-to-date, highly technical computers â what do you mean by âhighly technical computersâ? hard to manage and to learn?

will ensure that our children take full advantage of the latest technology to get ahead and also, - âtechnologyâ includes new / modern machines, and equipment. Therefore, it is redundant to mention âcomputersâ â I suggest that you reword the whole sentence. For example: The new computer room with the latest technology will ensure â¦.â

our new clean bathroom will help ensure they are clean and comfortable. Reword to rid of repetition.

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.