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Simple Present vs. Present Progressive

12/30/2011

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Picture
The biggest slogan in the world, and it's wrong.
_Two of the first tenses most likely learned by all speakers are the Simple Present and the Present Progressive.

The Present Progressive describes what is happening right now, or in the extended present. Words often associated with the Present Progressive are: nowadays, this month, these days, this year, etc.
The Present Progressive is formed by using the verb BE + Verb-ING.

Example 1:
A: Where is Joey?
B: He is sleeping in the guestroom.

The Simple Present describes what generally happens (but not necessarily right now), and is used for describing facts. Words often associated with the Simple Present are: often, never, always, usually, etc. The Simple Present is formed by using simple subject-verb agreement.

Examples:
I usually wake up at 5:45am.
Coffee contains caffeine.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Some verbs are not usually used in the progressive tense even when they describe an action that is happening right now. These are called ‘non-action’ verbs, or Stative verbs.
Stative verbs describe emotions (love, hate), mental states (remember, believe), wants (need, prefer), perceptions (hear, see), appearance (look, seem) and possession (have, own). Avoid the Present Progressive when using these verbs.

Examples:
I like to read.
I want a new laptop.
I don’t remember his name.

Author’s note:
Please keep in mind that these rules apply specifically to writing and in formal situations where judgement might be passed based on your use of language.

Feel free to speak how you wish in casual situations.





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Double Negatives

12/16/2011

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Picture
Yes, you do. You've just used a double negative.
_If you say, "I don't have nothing", it means that you have everything.

Options:
  1. I don't have anything.
  2. I have nothing.
Please stop using double negatives.

8 Comments

e.g. vs. i.e.

12/9/2011

5 Comments

 
Picture
Running with scissors is dangerous, i.e. it's a very bad idea.
_
e.g. means ‘for example’. It is used when there several examples about the given topic.
I love sports, e.g. hockey. – (Hockey is not the only sport I love)

i.e. means ‘that is’, or ‘in other words’. It is used when explaining or rephrasing a statement.
I love sports, i.e. I’ll be watching the game tonight. – (I’ve just rephrased my initial statement)

e.g. and i.e. are both Latin expressions that provide additional information to a statement. The thing to remember is that e.g. offers and example, whereas i.e. offers an explanation or rephrases a statement.

A good way to remember this rule is by letter association.

e.g. (E = example)

i.e. (I = in other words)


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Than vs. Then

12/2/2011

10 Comments

 
Picture
_Than is used ONLY when comparing two elements.
The form is noun + comparative adjective + than + noun.
The red dress is prettier than the black dress.

Then has a few meanings.
a. in that case –
                     -- Isabelle – “I am so tired”
                     -- Sally – “Then maybe you shouldn’t stay up so late”
b. after that –
                     First I went to Montreal. Then I met Georges St. Pierre. (This indicates a sequence of events.)
c. at that time –
                     One time I cried while sitting in the dentist’s chair. I haven’t been back since then.

Do you know the difference? Try this quiz.
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