Hey Language Learners!
Today, I want to help you all to understand the subtle difference between the use of from and since when talking about the past and the present. Both can be used to connect a specific detail from the past to a present condition. However, their uses are different. Since is much more versatile when it comes to the past than from, because from is normally used to show a period of time rather than just a specific starting point.
From the age of seven until now, I have always loved riding bikes.
I have loved riding bikes since the age of seven.
From is used more at the beginning of a sentence, while since can come at the beginning or the end.Though it's not grammatically wrong to put the "from clause" at the end, it sounds incredibly strange. From is also paired with the word until to show the ending of the time period.
I worked yesterday from 9 until 5. Compare that to:
I have been working since 9.
In the first example, the action is completed and we are only talking about one frame of time, so we use the simple past tense. In the second example, since only shows the time you started working, and, because the action is ongoing, we use the present perfect continuous/progressive tense.
Though both since and from can be used with adverbs of time and dates, since is used with continuous actions while from is used with the origin of objects, and, because the origin of something is a fact, we use the simple present tense.
How long have you been working here? (When did you start?)
Since I was 18. (I started when I was 18)
When is this from? (When was it made/written?)
It's from the 80s. (It was made in the 1980s)
There are many more uses of these words, but I hope this will help you to understand the difference between the two when talking about the past.
If you have more questions, please let me know in the comments below, or send me a message.
Thanks.
Greg :-)
Oi a Gente!
Tudo bem?
Today, I'd like to talk about the expression ter uma dúvida in English. While it is possible to say, eu tehno uma dúvida (I have a doubt), this expression is not very common in English.
Instead, you can say:
I have a question about + noun
(eu tenho uma pergunta sobre + substantivo)
Por exemplo:
I have a question about the present tense.
I have a question about grammar/I have a grammar question.
or I'm not sure about + noun
I'm not sure how to use + noun
(Eu não tenho certeza sobre + substantivo)
(Eu não tenho certeza de como usar + substantivo)
Por exemplo:
I'm not sure about the word "should" in English/I'm not sure how to use the word "should" in English.
I'm not sure about this/that. I'm not sure how to use this/that.
Então, se você tiver mais perguntas sobre este assunto, por favor, deixe um comentário ou envie-me uma mensagem.
Boa Sorte :-)
Greg
Hello Language Learners!
Today, I want to talk about the concepts of one, other, another, and others.
One = an adjective meaning a single thing: one hand, a noun meaning the number 1: One is less than two but more than zero.
*a pronoun meaning a nonspecific person: One must trust oneself. *this is not used very often and sounds unnatural.
One another = an expression meaning each other or everyone. We should all love one another/each other/everyone. One another sounds more formal, each other is neutral, and everyone is informal.
Other = an adjective which shows that something is different, often used with some(time/s). Sometimes I like to write, and other times I like to read. It might be helpful to think of other as replacing these and those. You talk about one thing, and then you show a contrast by talking about something else. So, "These times I like to write, and those times I like to read," becomes "Sometimes I like to write, and other times I like to read."
Another = I like to think of this as one + other (one more). It's an adjective that shows an addition to a previously mentioned item. He gave me two dollars, and I found another dollar in my dresser drawer.
Before we move on to others, I wanted to point out that one and another can both replace* the nouns they mention. He gave me ten dollars, but I needed one more to buy the shirt. (dollar)."No, you can't have a ride." "But I need one!" (ride) "I already gave you a piece of candy." "But, I want another!" (piece of candy) Here you can also add one. "But I want another one!" (I want one more piece of candy).
Others usually means other people (it can replace other + plural nouns but this can sound a little strange). Sometimes I like to read, and others I like to write.
Greg
Hello Language Learners!
Today I want to ask you about your feelings on using English as a global language (a common language spoken by everyone). So, what do you think? Should English be everyone's second language, or should we use something else?
Greg
Hello Language Learners,
Today I want to talk about the verb to get, specifically when it means to understand (someone/something).
Now, a lot of nonnatives I encounter like to use this word both to show that they understand, but also to check my understanding. But, the truth is, using got it? as a question sounds kind of rude. This is because we often use this expression when we are angry with someone. For example, imagine that my child has not done his homework even though I have asked him nicely many times. When I've head enough, I finally say something like,
"When I come back, you better have your homework done. GOT IT?!"
The same can be said when we are the ones who have not understood and we want the person explaining something to us to stop talking.
"Ok, I GOT IT!"
So, got it is often used only after we have already tried to explain something to someone several times. We even say,
"Do you get it now?"
or, if I'm the one who's confused, I would say,
"Oh! I get it now!"
So, the next time you want to ask someone if they understand try saying something like,
"Do you see what I mean?"
"Do you see what I'm saying?"
"Do you see?"
"Does that make sense (to you)?"
"Am I making sense?"
"Do you know what I mean?"
"You know?"
"Right?"
or just, "Do you understand?" is always a nice, polite thing to say to someone.
Have you ever had other problems like this before? Let me know in the comments below!
:-)
Greg
Hello Language Learners!
Today I want to address the topic of text-speak, or txt, in the US.
Like slang, every area has variations on what abbreviations are used, but here the most common ones I encounter in my daily life.
Lol = laugh out loud. You use this to show that you think something is funny, or to let the receiver know that you are only joking.
Wtf = What the f*ck. You use this to show that you are surprised and upset about something. Usually, you also end this with a question mark and/or exclamation point, "WTF?!"
Txt = abbreviation for text (message). "Txt me later, ok?"
Fml = f*ck my life! You use this to show that you VERY upset about something that has just happened to you.
There are MANY more of these expressions in the US, but these are the only ones that I see on a daily basis. Which ones have you seen/used? Are there any that you are still unsure of how to use?
Let me know in the comments below!
Greg :-)
Hello English Learners!
Today I'd like to look a commonly misused (and overused) expression by students: "As for me."
A lot of times I see students use this at the beginning of an assignment, but the problem is that "As for me" is a RESPONSE and NOT A TOPIC.
Let's look at the following situation:
John: What do you think about this election?
Peter: I know a lot of people have very strong feelings on the subject, but, as for me, I'm still undecided.
We see here that John asked a question and Peter gave an answer. Peter used "as for me" near the end of his response. This is because "as for me" shows a contrast to a statement you previously made. Peter said that "a lot of people have very strong feelings on the subject" but, Peter still doesn't know who he wants to support. This means that Peter does not have strong feelings one way or the other.
Think about it this way:
1. Question
2. Response
a. Explanation
b. As for me
c. Contrasting statement
This is the most natural way to use this expression. Now, of course, you might see and hear people use "as for me" at the beginning of a sentence, but this is meant to be ironic and funny. Let's look at one example.
John: Wow, she's beautiful huh?
Peter: As for me, I could take it or leave it.
Here, Peter's response is unnatural which alerts John to the fact that he needs to listen carefully to what Peter is about to say next. Peter is not impressed by the way the woman looks, and he emphasizes this by misusing "as for me" to get John's attention.
Simply put, don't start sentences with "as for me," unless you have spent some time explaining a different point of view first. Then you can use "as for me" to begin your explanation of how your opinion or experience is different from what you have just described.
Can you think of other times when people use or misuse this expression? Leave your thoughts in the comments below :-)
Until Next Time!
Greg
Hello English Language Learners!
Here's another problem that I see all the time with my ESL students: when to use since and when to use for.
Let's look at the following examples:
1. I have been studying English for two months.
2. I have been studying English since I was 12.
So, what's the difference? Generally speaking, we use for to show a length of time and we use since to show a specific point in time. Both since and for have other meanings, but, when you're talking about time, think about these questions:
"For how long?"
and
"Since when?"
Here we can use the questions to help us provide the correct answers.
"(For) How long have you been studying English?"
"I've been studying English for two months."
"Since when have you been studying English?"
"Since I was 12."
Be careful though. Often times you will hear the question, "How long have you been studying..." and the answer may be unpredictable. For example, if someone asked me how long I have been studying French, I could answer "for 14 years" or "since I was 16." Both are acceptable even though the second response does not directly answer the question, "for how long."
If you would like more information on the differences between for and since, let me know in the comments below!
Good Luck!
Greg
Hello English Language Learners!
I asked the question, "What is the hardest part about learning English?" And, most of you answered pronunciation. So, tell me, what is the hardest sound to pronounce in English?
Greg
Hello English Learners!
As a teacher, there is something I see a lot from my nonnative students: the use of the word about in a title or at the beginning of a sentence.
Using About + Noun in a title sounds very unnatural. For Example:
About My Car
About the War
About Teaching
I look at this and think, "Well, what about it? Here are some suggestions.
1. Drop the About. Just don't use it. Titles are meant to give the reader the topic of the piece and this can usually be done with a noun or a noun phrase.
About my Car --> My Car
2. Add the word All. Titles that use the phrase "all about" means that you are going to explain everything I need to know about that topic. Because you are going to explain something specific, you also need to include a little more detail. Here, "the war" is not enough. Which war do you mean?
About the War --> All About World War II
3. Change About to a question. Choosing a question can be very helpful both as a reader and a writer. This tells the reader what information they will be reading, and it keeps the writer focused on the topic.
About Teaching --> What is Teaching Really Like?
Feel free to message me if you have any more questions.
Boa Sorte! :-)
Greg
