I was kind of desperate for a while since of many things going around me.
I was going to post something but it has been a hard time for me.
Now, I am willing to do it again with the freshness.
My goal is posting at least twice a week.
Please look after me.
please visit my another blog http://fordgt90.blog.me
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Agreement between subject and verb
One of the basic rule but many ESL students make mistakes is agreement between subject and verb. All students know that a singular third person subject should be followed by a singular verb.
Now, what is the singular subject? As you know, it is just one person or object, like she, he, a bed or my uncle. The concept is pretty simple and easy to understand.
The point that I want to determine in this posting is that which subject can be singular or plural?
I sometimes confuse what verb type should I use for the subject ‘Some of’ or ‘Every’. I will explain about that.
Clause as the subject in a sentence
The first thing you have to remember is whether the subject you are talking about can be defined as a singular or not. For example, most clauses are considered as a singular.
Ex1) To learn snowboarding by oneself is difficult.
Ex2) Reading books about physics makes me sleepy.
In the case of Ex 1), not many people make a mistake, because even though you do not detect the subject of the sentence which is the whole RED clause, snowboarding can be understood as a singular. In contrast, it can be slightly confusing in the case of Ex2), since non-English native learners could be confused by ‘bookS’. However, if you look at the sentence little more carefully, you can realize that the verb ‘make’ should have ‘s’ because the subject is a clause.
Sorry to say that but it also has an EXCEPTION.
If we sue a what-clause as subject, we use a singular verb if the following main noun is singular, and either a singular or a plural verb if the following main noun is plural. (although the plural verb, in this case, is , usually, used in formal situations)
Moreover, subjects which can represent the group of people, such as family, can use either a singular or a plural formed verb. Those nouns are called ‘collective nouns’. The examples of ‘collective nouns’ are army, association, audience, class, club, college, committee, community, company, crew, crowd, department, electorate, enemy, family, generation, government, group, jury, opposition, orchestra, population, press, public, school, team, university, and the names of specific organizations such as the bank of Korea, the KBS, Samsung, the United Nations. (I cited those ‘collective nouns’ from Advanced Grammar in Use, Martin Hewings, Cambridge). However, if the sentence tells about the behavior of members of the group, the verb has to be the plural form.
Ex) The audience have voted to whom their favorite performer. (not the audience has voted….) In the similar idea, the subject that shows the group of people must use a singular verb in some cases.
Ex) Orchestra has a concert tomorrow at the Sydney Opera house. (the ‘orchestra’ represents not as the individuals in the orchestra but as a musical instrument performance team)
Agreement between subject and verb 2
Can you guess why I insert the picture? The picture is what I took from a skytrain station yesterday. I was looking for a good example to explain about ‘agreement between subject and verb’. And…… it came to me.
Anyway, look at the copy on the advertisement. ‘Every mood has a colour.’
What? Every mood? Not every moods?? ‘Every something’ sounds like a plural. But let us think how we usually use the ‘Every’. ‘Everybody, Everyone, Every time, Everything….. body, one, time and thing are singular. That is why ‘Every mood’ can be a correct form. If you confusing when you use those kinds of words, you better remind how have you been using those words in common.
Then, I will explain how those kinds of words are used using a table.
※ Subjects joined by ‘and’ but could be considered as a single item can use singular formed verb.
Ex) A Big Mac, a large fries and a medium coke is $6.95.
A big Mac, a large fries and a medium coke are making up a single item(Combo).
※ When a subject is made up of two or more items joined by [(either) ~ or ~] or
[(neither) ~ nor ~], the usage of a verb in those sentence depends on the last item.
; if the last item is singular, verb must be a singular formed.
Ex) Titanic or The avatar is James Cameron’s masterpiece.
; if the last item is plural, a plural verb must be used.
Ex) Either a hamburger or many kinds of fast foods cause the young-age obesity.
; if the last item is singular and previous item is plural, we can use a singular or plural verb.
Ex) Neither many scientists nor the super computer has(have) expected this disaster.
Visit my other blog. fordgt90.blog.me
Now, what is the singular subject? As you know, it is just one person or object, like she, he, a bed or my uncle. The concept is pretty simple and easy to understand.
The point that I want to determine in this posting is that which subject can be singular or plural?
I sometimes confuse what verb type should I use for the subject ‘Some of’ or ‘Every’. I will explain about that.
Clause as the subject in a sentence
The first thing you have to remember is whether the subject you are talking about can be defined as a singular or not. For example, most clauses are considered as a singular.
Ex1) To learn snowboarding by oneself is difficult.
Ex2) Reading books about physics makes me sleepy.
In the case of Ex 1), not many people make a mistake, because even though you do not detect the subject of the sentence which is the whole RED clause, snowboarding can be understood as a singular. In contrast, it can be slightly confusing in the case of Ex2), since non-English native learners could be confused by ‘bookS’. However, if you look at the sentence little more carefully, you can realize that the verb ‘make’ should have ‘s’ because the subject is a clause.
Sorry to say that but it also has an EXCEPTION.
If we sue a what-clause as subject, we use a singular verb if the following main noun is singular, and either a singular or a plural verb if the following main noun is plural. (although the plural verb, in this case, is , usually, used in formal situations)
Moreover, subjects which can represent the group of people, such as family, can use either a singular or a plural formed verb. Those nouns are called ‘collective nouns’. The examples of ‘collective nouns’ are army, association, audience, class, club, college, committee, community, company, crew, crowd, department, electorate, enemy, family, generation, government, group, jury, opposition, orchestra, population, press, public, school, team, university, and the names of specific organizations such as the bank of Korea, the KBS, Samsung, the United Nations. (I cited those ‘collective nouns’ from Advanced Grammar in Use, Martin Hewings, Cambridge). However, if the sentence tells about the behavior of members of the group, the verb has to be the plural form.
Ex) The audience have voted to whom their favorite performer. (not the audience has voted….) In the similar idea, the subject that shows the group of people must use a singular verb in some cases.
Ex) Orchestra has a concert tomorrow at the Sydney Opera house. (the ‘orchestra’ represents not as the individuals in the orchestra but as a musical instrument performance team)
Agreement between subject and verb 2
Can you guess why I insert the picture? The picture is what I took from a skytrain station yesterday. I was looking for a good example to explain about ‘agreement between subject and verb’. And…… it came to me.
Anyway, look at the copy on the advertisement. ‘Every mood has a colour.’
What? Every mood? Not every moods?? ‘Every something’ sounds like a plural. But let us think how we usually use the ‘Every’. ‘Everybody, Everyone, Every time, Everything….. body, one, time and thing are singular. That is why ‘Every mood’ can be a correct form. If you confusing when you use those kinds of words, you better remind how have you been using those words in common.
Then, I will explain how those kinds of words are used using a table.
※ Subjects joined by ‘and’ but could be considered as a single item can use singular formed verb.
Ex) A Big Mac, a large fries and a medium coke is $6.95.
A big Mac, a large fries and a medium coke are making up a single item(Combo).
※ When a subject is made up of two or more items joined by [(either) ~ or ~] or
[(neither) ~ nor ~], the usage of a verb in those sentence depends on the last item.
; if the last item is singular, verb must be a singular formed.
Ex) Titanic or The avatar is James Cameron’s masterpiece.
; if the last item is plural, a plural verb must be used.
Ex) Either a hamburger or many kinds of fast foods cause the young-age obesity.
; if the last item is singular and previous item is plural, we can use a singular or plural verb.
Ex) Neither many scientists nor the super computer has(have) expected this disaster.
Visit my other blog. fordgt90.blog.me
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Thanks god???
had not realized that ESL(English as a Second Language) learners usually misuse the expression 'thank god' before I am lectured by a teacher in Canada.
The right expression which we used to say 'Thanks god!' is 'Thank god!!!!!!'
Let us do not let people know that we are English Learners saying 'Thanks god' or 'Thank you god'
New Version of jungmin's station
I opened a new blog for Korean learners who have difficulty understanding my posts.
I am planning to make Korean and Chinese translated versions.
Please visit my another blog and keep visiting this blog, too.
The only difference between the new one and this is whether or not there are Korean translated postings.
Thank you for visiting and reading this immature postings.
I am doing and also will do my best improving the quality of every single posting.
you can visit the new version if you click the title of this posting.
I am planning to make Korean and Chinese translated versions.
Please visit my another blog and keep visiting this blog, too.
The only difference between the new one and this is whether or not there are Korean translated postings.
Thank you for visiting and reading this immature postings.
I am doing and also will do my best improving the quality of every single posting.
you can visit the new version if you click the title of this posting.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Passive Voice
Passive.
I am required to explain about the 'PASSIVE' by Tae-Seung.
Tae-Seung required me to explain about the 'Passive'.
You can distinguish what is passive and active seeing those two sentences.
Let us define 'Passive' first of all.
the word passive means INactive which also means NOT active.
Active means, as you know, do something by oneself.
So, 'passive' means that lacking in energy or will.
The sentence form we know as the passive is PASSIVE VOICE.
It basically means the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is not the source of the action denoted by the verb.
Means that even if the subject of an event is you, the passive voice is explained in the point of object.
I think the explanation makes it more complicated.
Let me explain using some examples.
- Ji-hye pays $40 to her tutor every week.
The subject of this sentence is 'Ji-hye' and she gives $40 by herself to her tutor.
Let us see how could we make in the other sense.
-Ji-hye's tutor is paid $40 by Ji-hye every week.
In this sentence, the subject and the object are exchanged each other, but the meanings of those two sentences are same.
There are 4 types of verbs as a main verb in a sentence.
Only 1 verb can be existed in ONE sentence.
And the verb must be one of those 4 types.
1. a single verb (present forms and past forms depend on type of the subject)
- I go Hankook university. (present simple)
- My friend became a doctor. (past simple)
- My mother runs a private music academy. (third person present simple)
- People over there are all my friends. (third plural form of BE verb)
2. An auxiliary verb(or extended form of them + simple form
- I will be a good English teacher. or I am going to be a good English teacher.
- I must study for the final exam. or I have to study for the final exam.
- You might have to pretend to be your father.
3. BE verb + -ing
- I am playing a computer game, right now.
4. Past Participle forms
4.1 A have verb and P.P
As we saw last time, it is a form of a perfect tense.
- I have done the same homework before.
- He has studied in University of Korea.
- My uncle had worked as an intern before he became a lawyer.
4.2 A BE verb and P.P
This form is the target of today's posting.
Passive seems complicated but it is not that complex.
Exchange the subject(s) and the object(s) in the sentence.
For example, if you want to say in a different view using a sentence
'Jungmin uses the lap-top computer to update the blog.'
You, firstly, should find what are subject and object on the sentence.
The subject on the example sentence is 'Jungmin'
and the object of the sentence is 'the lap-top computer'.
Now, the active sentence will be changed to a passive sentence after some simple processing.
Processing 1. exchange the position of the subject and the object each other
-> The lap-top computer uses Jungmin to update the blog.
Processing 2. change the form of verb to the form <BE + P.P>
-> The lap-top computer is used Jungmin to update the blog.
Processing 3. remove the original subject and (put it in the end of sentence with 'by').
-> The lap-top computer is used to update the blog.
-> The lap-top computer is used to update the blog by Jungmin.
※ Both of two sentences up there are valid. The first sentence is called
'abbreviated passive form' which means short form.
It's that easy!!!
Let me finish here for today.
If you have any question, please let me know through your Comment below every posting.
I am required to explain about the 'PASSIVE' by Tae-Seung.
Tae-Seung required me to explain about the 'Passive'.
You can distinguish what is passive and active seeing those two sentences.
Let us define 'Passive' first of all.
the word passive means INactive which also means NOT active.
Active means, as you know, do something by oneself.
So, 'passive' means that lacking in energy or will.
The sentence form we know as the passive is PASSIVE VOICE.
It basically means the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is not the source of the action denoted by the verb.
Means that even if the subject of an event is you, the passive voice is explained in the point of object.
I think the explanation makes it more complicated.
Let me explain using some examples.
- Ji-hye pays $40 to her tutor every week.
The subject of this sentence is 'Ji-hye' and she gives $40 by herself to her tutor.
Let us see how could we make in the other sense.
-Ji-hye's tutor is paid $40 by Ji-hye every week.
In this sentence, the subject and the object are exchanged each other, but the meanings of those two sentences are same.
There are 4 types of verbs as a main verb in a sentence.
Only 1 verb can be existed in ONE sentence.
And the verb must be one of those 4 types.
1. a single verb (present forms and past forms depend on type of the subject)
- I go Hankook university. (present simple)
- My friend became a doctor. (past simple)
- My mother runs a private music academy. (third person present simple)
- People over there are all my friends. (third plural form of BE verb)
2. An auxiliary verb(or extended form of them + simple form
- I will be a good English teacher. or I am going to be a good English teacher.
- I must study for the final exam. or I have to study for the final exam.
- You might have to pretend to be your father.
3. BE verb + -ing
- I am playing a computer game, right now.
4. Past Participle forms
4.1 A have verb and P.P
As we saw last time, it is a form of a perfect tense.
- I have done the same homework before.
- He has studied in University of Korea.
- My uncle had worked as an intern before he became a lawyer.
4.2 A BE verb and P.P
This form is the target of today's posting.
Passive seems complicated but it is not that complex.
Exchange the subject(s) and the object(s) in the sentence.
For example, if you want to say in a different view using a sentence
'Jungmin uses the lap-top computer to update the blog.'
You, firstly, should find what are subject and object on the sentence.
The subject on the example sentence is 'Jungmin'
and the object of the sentence is 'the lap-top computer'.
Now, the active sentence will be changed to a passive sentence after some simple processing.
Processing 1. exchange the position of the subject and the object each other
-> The lap-top computer uses Jungmin to update the blog.
Processing 2. change the form of verb to the form <BE + P.P>
-> The lap-top computer is used Jungmin to update the blog.
Processing 3. remove the original subject and (put it in the end of sentence with 'by').
-> The lap-top computer is used to update the blog.
-> The lap-top computer is used to update the blog by Jungmin.
※ Both of two sentences up there are valid. The first sentence is called
'abbreviated passive form' which means short form.
It's that easy!!!
Let me finish here for today.
If you have any question, please let me know through your Comment below every posting.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Present Simple tense
First of all I want to tell you that present simple tense will not be very detailed,
Make it simple. Present Simple tense is used in these cases.
because the purpose of this blog is for English grammar which people have difficulties to learn not explain all English grammar. Now, Let us get started.
Do not struggling!! Enjoy it!! lol
Present Simple
As I mentioned on the last posting, present simple tense is not used as much as we think.
Only 3 per cent of present tense is simple tense in our everyday life.
Actually the present simple hardly means the present situation. Most of time the exact present statement alter to PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense.
For example,
a) I take a shower.
b) I am take a shower.
What do you think I am describing you the statement of NOW?
The answer is b)
In the case of 'a)' it describe a habit that I always have time taking shower everyday.
But, in sentence 'b)', it does not refer whether I take shower everyday but I my statement of NOW is taking shower.
For example,
a) I take a shower.
b) I am take a shower.
What do you think I am describing you the statement of NOW?
The answer is b)
In the case of 'a)' it describe a habit that I always have time taking shower everyday.
But, in sentence 'b)', it does not refer whether I take shower everyday but I my statement of NOW is taking shower.
Make it simple. Present Simple tense is used in these cases.
1. Unchangeable or general Truth
ex) The earth goes around the sun in a year.
2. Habit or regularly happened events(routine)
ex) I go Seoul high school.
3. Using verbs cannot be used as -ing forms
ex) I love you. I have a 10 dollar bill.
4. Narratives
ex) I put an egg into this bowl.(In a cooking class), Choo Shinsoo hit a home-run.
5. Scheduled events in the near future
ex) My friend Tae-Seung opens his own Cafe tomorrow at 2PM.
6. Events at any time in the future in a dependent clause.
ex) Tae-Seung will marry when he reaches 45-year-old.
7. Virtual story telling
ex) Snow white bites the apple given from her old lady-costumed step mother.
As we reviewed today, the present tense is rarely used.
P.S. Sorry Tae-Seung! you can marry soon! lol
ex) The earth goes around the sun in a year.
2. Habit or regularly happened events(routine)
ex) I go Seoul high school.
3. Using verbs cannot be used as -ing forms
ex) I love you. I have a 10 dollar bill.
4. Narratives
ex) I put an egg into this bowl.(In a cooking class), Choo Shinsoo hit a home-run.
5. Scheduled events in the near future
ex) My friend Tae-Seung opens his own Cafe tomorrow at 2PM.
6. Events at any time in the future in a dependent clause.
ex) Tae-Seung will marry when he reaches 45-year-old.
7. Virtual story telling
ex) Snow white bites the apple given from her old lady-costumed step mother.
As we reviewed today, the present tense is rarely used.
P.S. Sorry Tae-Seung! you can marry soon! lol
Friday, March 4, 2011
Perfect tenses
What comes on your mind if I would say 'I had have been being abused by friend of mine while I was working for a company before.'?
Many Asian Language learners have difficulty to use perfect tenses.
Because I have not studied Asian language, even Korean; my mother tongue, I cite a blog.
According to http://blog.naver.com/svs107?Redirect=Log&logNo=20118672411 (I think the blogger has much better knowledge about Korean Language than me. Moreover, I have not studied Korean Language at all.)The main point which is important in this posting is that Korean Language, basically, has only 3 tenses. The PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE tenses.
It could be explained why Asian especially Korean Language learners suffer from using perfect tenses.
Frankly, I do NOT totally understand how to use them exactly. However, I would explain using many grammar reference books.
I cite from Advanced Grammar in Use(2010, Martin Hewings, Cambridge), Azar understanding and using English Grammar(2000, Betty Schrampfer Azar, Longman)
Usually perfect tenses are explained with the picture up there.
The problem is that we sometimes confuse how to match the situation we want to talk about and those simple, so called, 'the simplest explanation of perfect tenses'.
PAST PERFECT
I used to ask to myself what tense I should use if I played baseball last Saturday?
If we see the picture posted up there, past perfect is used one event had progressed in the past and finished in the past. It sounds like 'the paradox of Zenon(If a turtle starts a race earlier, even Achilles, the fastest human in ancient era could not win the race). How can it be explained?
To long story short, the only difference between PAST SIMPLE tense and PAST PERFECT is whether a point occurs or not.
Let us assume that we are talking about the baseball game we played last Saturday.
As a past simple I can say 'I hit two home-runs in last game.'
However, I should say 'Tony had hit before I hit the two run home-run.'
Can you find any difference between those two sentences?
Yep!! you got this!!!
In the first sentence, there is no point after the EVENT(Home-run), but there is one in the second one.
In the second one, the event(two run home-run) exists.
Just remember!! The one exact(??) point!!!
Present Perfect
According to my former English teacher, Nassar, the simple present tenses are used only 3 per cent on our everyday conversation.
That is true. I hardly can heard simple present. Most of the 'hardly' is on television. Usually sports show!
My friend 'Jiwon' have complaint about her English conversation teacher that she keeps using present tense instead of past tense. I could not fully see the situation, but I could explain that simple present could be used to describe past events virtually!
For example, Joker in Batman The Dark Knight explains how he got the scars on his face. He definitely uses the present tense.
'Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was a drinker and a fiend. He'd beat mommy right in front of me.
One night he goes off crazier than usual, mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not. One. Bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. Turns to me and says 'why so serious?' Comes at me with the knife-
'why so serious?' Sticks the blade in my mouth- 'Let's put a smile on that face'
Do you know what is happening here? He talks to give impact about what he experienced.
There are 13 situations the present tense has to be used. Let us talk about them later.
I go too far to simple present. Now talk about the main issue here.
As we can see the picture up there, present perfect is used to explain a event started in the past and finish at the present. Referring to 'Advanced Grammar in Use', Time expressions that refer to the present, such as this morning/week/month and today, can be used with either past simple or present perfect verbs.
Easy example:
- I did not meet my girlfriend this week.
(It is evening of Sunday. So I have no chance to meet my girlfriend)
- I have not met my girlfriend this week.
(I have not met my girlfriend, but I might have chance to meet her in this week.)
Easy Pizzy! (Actually it is not that easy!) But only thing you can get is that both of past simple and present perfect could be alternated each others in everyday language.
there are lots of things about tenses but it is 3 in the morning. I have to sleep! lol
tomorrow, I will discuss more about present perfect, simple and so on!! lol
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Learning English Language Grammar!
Many English learner especially Asian learner assume that learning English grammar is useless and old-fashioned.
That could be true, because the traditional way of Language Teaching was 'The Grammar Translation Method'. It is known as the Classical Method means classic! lol
A historical foundation of Language acquisition should be set in the context of a prevailing since of absence of possibility of communication between different language users.
Especially, Latin was taught by focusing on grammatical rules, memorization of vocabulary and of various declensions and conjugations, translations of texts, doing written exercises. That is why the method is called CLASSICAL METHOD.
To make a long story short, learning grammar is necessary for foreign language learners as long as they are not highly accustomed to the target language.
Many new language learners are willing to take language proficiency tests, such as TOEFL or the IELTS, in the case of English.
Those tests have Writing and Speaking sections. Without comprehension of the grammar of one's target language, it is impossible to study those sections, since knowing how to use the language possibly make the student to correct oneself his/her errors one made.
Although Richards & Rodgers pointed out, 'it has no advocates. It is a method for which there is no theory. There is no literature that offers a rationale or justification for it or that attempts to relate it to issues in linguistics, psychology, or educational theory.' they stressed that 'remembered with distaste by thousands of school learners, for whom foreign language learning meant a tedious experience of memorizing endless lists of unusable grammar rules and vocabulary and attempting to produce perfect translations of stilted or literary prose'.
It is the very first step in language learning to memorizing. And the next step could come to the level of self-correction.
As long as we, learners, are in the level of those two very basic, we cannot help giving effort on bearing the tunnel of these boring steps.
That could be true, because the traditional way of Language Teaching was 'The Grammar Translation Method'. It is known as the Classical Method means classic! lol
A historical foundation of Language acquisition should be set in the context of a prevailing since of absence of possibility of communication between different language users.
Especially, Latin was taught by focusing on grammatical rules, memorization of vocabulary and of various declensions and conjugations, translations of texts, doing written exercises. That is why the method is called CLASSICAL METHOD.
Many new language learners are willing to take language proficiency tests, such as TOEFL or the IELTS, in the case of English.
Those tests have Writing and Speaking sections. Without comprehension of the grammar of one's target language, it is impossible to study those sections, since knowing how to use the language possibly make the student to correct oneself his/her errors one made.
Although Richards & Rodgers pointed out, 'it has no advocates. It is a method for which there is no theory. There is no literature that offers a rationale or justification for it or that attempts to relate it to issues in linguistics, psychology, or educational theory.' they stressed that 'remembered with distaste by thousands of school learners, for whom foreign language learning meant a tedious experience of memorizing endless lists of unusable grammar rules and vocabulary and attempting to produce perfect translations of stilted or literary prose'.
It is the very first step in language learning to memorizing. And the next step could come to the level of self-correction.
As long as we, learners, are in the level of those two very basic, we cannot help giving effort on bearing the tunnel of these boring steps.
The first posting
This blog is not commercial purposed.
I am learning English Language and teaching theories in Canada.
I have not blogged before but I will do my best to help someone who needs to learn English.
Have fun on my blog and I hope everybody who visits here will have a wonderful day.
I am learning English Language and teaching theories in Canada.
I have not blogged before but I will do my best to help someone who needs to learn English.
Have fun on my blog and I hope everybody who visits here will have a wonderful day.
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