Learn English - See Daily a New Topic

[shsaeed]

I ......... don't know how to learn new words by heart.

(a) some time
(b) sometimes
(c) something

Correct answer (b) sometimes

Sometimes means occasionally/not very often. Some time means at a time in the future which is not definite. Some time I shall go on a world cruise but I'm not sure when.

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

Wow! Look at that! How ......... books do you have on your shelf? I have to tell you, it's quite a great collection!

(a) much
(b) many
(c) any
(d) some

Correct answer (b) many

Many and much mean a lot. Many is for countable nouns (many peanuts) and much is for uncountable nouns (much peanut butter).

Some is not as much or many.

For Example
You've made many mistakes in your essay. You have made some progress but not much, I'm afraid.

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

Can you ......... me all right over there because you are rather a long way away?

(a) listening
(b) hearing
(c) listen
(d) hear

Correct answer (d) hear

The verb «to hear» means to be aware of sounds in your ears, so when you there is a sound (for example the radio is on) and you receive that sound through your ears.

That verb «to listen (to)» means to pay attention to somebody/something that you can hear. So when you listen to something or somebody you make an effort to hear it or them. When you hear something you usually don't have to make an effort — it just happens (provided your ears are intact of course.)

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

That's what I would like ......... Christmas.

(a) for
(b) at
(c) in
(d) on

Correct answer (a) for

As you know, Christmas is a holiday, an event. You choose presents for this holiday. You prepare for this event.
Then, you can say Please, visit us at Christmas, we have a lot of surprises for you.

In this sentence you need to use for. You can use ON but then you would have to say On Christmas Day.

''IN'' would be used for periods of time as in Spring/in Winter/in the holidays.


Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

We live ......... the city centre.

(a) near
(b) next
(c) by
(d) nearby

Correct answer (a) near

The words «nearby» and «near» are very similar in meaning, however, there are some differences too. The word «near« can be used as an adjective and as a preposition but «nearby» can be used as an adjective but not as a preposition.

Please compare

The post office is near the bus station. (preposition)
The post office is quite near. (predicative adjective)
We went to the nearby post office. (attributive adjective)


You can live near the centre of the town - that means not far from.

I live near London -it's only 20 minutes away by train

I would like to live by the sea - that means at the seaside and has the idea of alongside the sea.

You could live in a village near the sea - that means the sea is not far from your door but if you live by the sea, it means that the sea is visible and the region/the area is within easy reach of the sea.

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

She hasn't come home ..........

(a) yet
(b) still

Correct answer (a) yet

Yet is up till now negative and interrogative - He's not home yet - Is she home yet?

Still is continuing even now in all forms.

Is she still working?
Yes, she's still working because she's still not finished.

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

" Where use start and where begin "

«To begin at the beginning It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black…» The two verbs «start» and «begin» are like so many couples in the English language a really troublesome pair because of the problem of choosing the right one for the appropriate use and occasion. Take these two sentences for example

«I've started to learn English and I've begun to learn English». Which one would you choose? Well, I have a theory about these verbs which I want to try out in order to test its validity. The difference really lies in the nature of the two words. «Begin» has a sense of leisure and «start» has the idea of urgency. They both obviously indicate the idea of commencing — don't ask me to explain that word's relationship with the pair, suffice it to say that it covers both meanings — but there is a difference in interpretation. «Start» gives the idea of suddenness. In fact if you were sitting in a room and say half asleep and you were unaware that there was anybody else there, you would say if you unexpectedly heard or saw them.


Thanks

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

Dear Friends!
I just get admission in CA Module A and i want to share
my new learnings in Functional English.
i daily Submit a "DO YOU KNOW" hope you all get benefit.

Actually when we give our findings to others they not
only benefit the others but also keep in our mind for
a long time.

Today's Do You Know...

Can you hear what he is .........?

(a) saying
(b) speaking
(c) telling
(d) talking

Correct answer (a) saying

SAYING (using words to describe something)
TELLING (informing them/this verb usually has an object)
SPEAKING (giving a speech)
TALKING (having a conversation)

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

Thank you very much indeed, that's very kind ......... you.

(a) from
(b) for
(c) of

Correct answer (c) of

When you add indeed, you make the words stronger. You can say very good indeed, which means very, very good. When you say thank you very much indeed, you are saying thank you, thank you, thank you.

It's very kind of you means you are very kind (to do that). It's very kind of him means he is very kind (to do that).

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

There are so many things that it's difficult to ..........

(a) put
(b) follow
(c) find
(d) choose

Correct answer (d) choose

You need choose because there are many things available and you have to pick one of them and you have to decide which one.

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

Well, my ......... is that I'm lost.

(a) problem
(b) difficult

Correct answer (a) problem

The word you need in this sentence must be a noun. Difficult is an adjective and so you can't use it here. If you want to express another idea, you could say My difficulty and that is the noun formed from the adjective difficult.


Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

<b>The Use Of Simple Present Tense</b>

(1) To Express a habitual action; as
He drinks tea every morning.
My watch keeps good time.

(2) To express general truths;as
The sun rises in the east.
Honey is sweet.
Fortune favours the brave.

(3) In exclamatory sentences begining with here and there to express
what is actually taking place in the present;as
Here comes the bus!
There she goes!

(4) In vivid narrative, as substitute for the Simple Past;as
Sohrab now rushes forward and deals a heavy blow to Rustam.
Immediately the Sultan hurries to his capital.

(5) To express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable
or fixed programme.
The match starts at 9 o'clock.
The train leaves at 520.


Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

<b>Present Continuous Tense</b>

(1) For An Action Going On At The Time Of Speaking;as
She is singing (now).
The boys are playing hockey.

(2) For a temporary action which may not be happening at the time
of speaking ;as
I am reading "David Copperfield" (But I am not reading at this moment).
(3) For an action that has already been arranged to take place in the
near future;as
i am going to the cinema tonight.
My uncle is arriving tomarrow.

(4) You know that for habitual action we use Present Simple.
But for obstinate habits we use present continuous with adverbs
like always , continually, constantly;as
My dog is very silly; he is always running out into the road.

(5)The following verbs on account of their meaning are not used
in continuous form.
(a) verbs of perception, e.g see, hear, smell, notice, recognize
(b) verbs of appearing , e.g apper, look, seem
(c) verbs of emotion , e.g want, wish, desire, fell, love, hate
(d) verbs of thinking , e.g think, suppose, believe, agree, consider
(e) have (=possess), own, possess, belong to, contain, consist of.

Fro Example
<u>Wrong</u> <b>Right</b>
These grapes are tasting sour (These grapes taste sour)
She is seeming sad (She seems sad)

However the above verbs with the change of meaning can be used in continuous form.
She is tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.
I am thinking of going to Malaysia.



Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

<font color="maroon"><font size="3"><font face="Arial Black">Present Perfect</font id="Arial Black"></font id="size3"></font id="maroon">

**has/have + past participle**

Examples

You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.

<u>USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now</u>
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples

I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.

<u>TOPIC 1 Experience</u>
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Examples

I have been to France.
<font color="red">This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.</font id="red">

I have been to France three times.
<font color="red">You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.</font id="red">

I have never been to France.
<font color="red">This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.</font id="red">

I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.

<u>TOPIC 2 Change Over Time</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

Examples

You have grown since the last time I saw you.
The government has become more interested in arts education.
Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

<u>TOPIC 3 Accomplishments</u>

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Examples

Man has walked on the Moon.
Our son has learned how to read.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.

<u>TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Examples

James has not finished his homework yet.
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
Bill has still not arrived.
The rain hasn't stopped.

<u>TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times</u>

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.

Examples

The army has attacked that city five times.
I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
We have had many major problems while working on this project.
She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.

<u>NOTICE</u>
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.

Examples

I went to Mexico last year.
<font color="red">I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one. </font id="red">
I have been to Mexico in the last year.
<font color="red">I have been to Mexico at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now.</font id="red">

Muhammad Asim Saeed

[shsaeed]

<b>Present Perfect Continuous</b>

[has/have + been + present participle]

<u>USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now</u>

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

Examples

They have been talking for the last hour.
She has been working at that company for three years.
What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
James has been teaching at the university since June.
We have been waiting here for over two hours!
Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

<u>USE 2 Recently, Lately</u>


You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples

Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
She has been watching too much television lately.
Have you been exercising lately?
Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
Lisa has not been practicing her English.
What have you been doing?

<u>IMPORTANT</u>

Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?", it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.

<u>REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs</u>

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Present Perfect.

Examples

Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

<u>ADVERB PLACEMENT</u>
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples

You have only been waiting here for one hour.
Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

<u>ACTIVE / PASSIVE</u>
Examples

Recently, John has been doing the work. Active
Recently, the work has been being done by John. Passive
NOTE Present Perfect Continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.