Leo’s English improved when he started a course at Langports English College.
His English is improving.
His Englishhas improvedsince he started at Langports.
The first sentence gives information about the past, only the past. So we use the Past Simple: improved. We don’t know if Leo’s English continued to improve. We don’t know about his English now.
The second sentence only gives information about what is happening now, what is in progress. So we use Present Continuous: is improving. (Present Continuous is also known as Present Progressive.) This sentence does not tell us about Leo’s past.
The third sentence gives information about the past, the present, and the time which connects the past and present. So, we use Present Perfect:has improved. This sentence gives a lot of information. We know that:
Leo’s English began to improve after he started at Langports, and …
During his time at Langports, it continued to improve, until …
Now. We can see the improvement now.
So, if we want to give information about the past, the present, and the time in between, in one sentence, we can use Present Perfect Tense.
Leo’s Englishhas improvedsince he started at Langports.
Hehas attendedevery lesson.
Marcellohas misseda lot of lessons because of sickness, so his Englishhas notimproved.
Rihannahas been lookingfor the ideal man all her life. Check-out her Youtube video:Where have you been?(When we use Present Perfect Tense and want to show that something has been in progress and has not finished, we can use Present Perfect Continuous:has been looking.) In the Youtube video, Rihanna is still looking for him.
* For further explanation of Present Perfect and online exercises, check out Englishpage.com:
We use Past Simple Tense to describe something which started and finished in the past:
Bachir played soccer last Wednesday.
Bachir hurt his leg last Wednesday.
Bachir stayed at home on Thursday and Friday.
I taught Past Continuous Tense to my students on Thursday and Friday.
Here is a cartoon video which will help you understand Past Simple:
We use Past Continuous Tense (also known as Past Progressive Tense) to describe something that was happening (in progress) at the same time as something else:
Bachir hurt his leg when he was playing soccer.
While Bachir was resting at home, I was teaching Past Continuous Tense at school.
While I was watching television last night, the phone rang.
We also use Past Continuous Tense to describe something in progress at a particular time in the past:
At 9:00am Thursday, Ricardo was telling me about Bachir’s accident.
At 1:00pm today, I was eating my lunch.
This time last week, I was teaching Prepositions.
Here is a cartoon video which will help you understand Past Continuous:
Why is this crocodile in the music video? I don’t know! What do YOU think?
Songs are often short stories about a singer’s life. They usually use every-day language to describe the past, present, and/or future and so are valuable learning tools for students of English. The following song, Counting Stars, by One Republic is one such example. I’m not sure what they are singing about, but we can still examine some of the lines in the song and work out why those tenses have been used. (If you are interested in reading opinions on the meaning of this song, check out this site:)http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859452557/)
* I suggest that, before you look at the Relative Clauses in the song, you refer to my post on Relative Clauses dated July 24, 2013
** Grammar used in the song is explained below the lyrics.
Grammar is highlighted in these colours: Present Perfect Continuous Tense Present Simple TensePresent Continuous Tense Relative Clauses
[Chorus]
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep, Dreaming about the things that we could be.
But baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard;
Said no more counting dollars.
We’ll be counting stars.
Yeah, we’ll be counting stars.
[Verse 1]
I see this life like a swinging vine Swing my heart across the line.
In my face is flashing signs. Seek it out and ye shall find.
Old, but I’m not that old.
Young, but I’m not that bold.
And I don’t think the world is sold.
I’m just doing what we’re told.
I feel something so right but (I’m) doing the wrong thing.
I feel something so wrong but (I’m) doing the right thing.
I could lie, could lie, could lie.
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.
Ryan Tedder from ONE REPUBLIC
[Chorus] x 2
[Verse 2]
I feel the love and I feel it burn,
Down this river every turn.
Hope is a four letter word. Make that money. Watch it burn.
Old, but I’m not that old.
Young, but I’m not that bold.
And I don’t think the world is sold.∗
I’m just doing what we’re told.
And I feel something so wrong but (I’m) doing the right thing.
I could lie, could lie, could lie.
Everything that drowns me makes me want to fly.
[Chorus] x 2
[Bridge 4x:] Take that money. Watch it burn. Sink in the river the lessons I learned.
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.
[Chorus] x 2
[Outro 4x:] Take that money. Watch it burn. Sink in the river the lessons I learned.
* Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The song begins with Ryan Tedder singing “Lately I’ve been losing sleep.” This is a great introduction to his story. He uses Present Perfect Continuous Tense (have been losing) to describe an action that started in the past and has continued up to now. He has “… been dreaming about the things that we could be.” He has “… beenpraying hard”. It’s because of these recent actions that he is thinking about his life now and in the future.
These actions started in the past, but Past Simple Tense cannot be used because Past Simple Tense is only used for actions that started in the past and finished in the past. However, the losing sleep, the dreaming, and the praying, have not finished. To give information about the past and the present in one clause, we use Present Perfect Tense, or (as in this song) Present Perfect Continuous Tense when we want to make it clear that the action has been continuous and will probably continue.
* Present Simple Tense* Present Continuous Tense
The singer describes his life. He uses Present Simple Tense because he is telling us about how things are, their state. He tells us how he feels, he gives opinions, and he gives advice:
I see this life …
… I’m not that old.
I don’t think the world is sold.
I feel something so wrong …
Take that money.
Watch it burn.
He uses Present Continuous Tense : I’m just doing what we’re told, because it’s an action in progress now, at this time in his life. This is also true when he sings that he’s “doing the wrong thing” and that he’s “doing the right thing“.
*Relative Clauses
Isee this life like a swinging vine.
I’ve been dreaming about the things that we could be.
The Relative Clauses in the song relate, or refer to, “the things” he is dreaming about; “everything” and “the lessons”. Take out the Relative Clause and an Independent Clause remains:
I see this life.
I’ve been dreaming about the things.
Everything makes me feel alive.
Everything makes me want to fly.
Sink in the river the lessons. (This sentence has unusual word order. This often happens in songs because the song-writer needs to fit the rhythm of the song. In normal spoken language, you would say: Sink the lessons in the river./Sink the lessons I’ve learned in the river.)
The Relative Clauses are included because they relate to, or define something in the Independent Clause. They are vital for meaning.
– He doesn’t just see “life”, but life which is “like a swinging vine“.
– He hasn’t just been dreaming about “things”, but “things that we could be”.
– “Everything” doesn’t make him feel alive”; only “Everything that kills me”.
-“Everything” doesn’t make him want to fly”, only “Everything that drowns me”.
– He’s not suggesting that ALL lessons should “sink in the river”, just “the lessons I learned”.
Because the Relative Clauses define something and can’t be left out without changing the meaning, we call them DEFINING Relative Clauses.
For more information on Relative Clauses, refer to my post on Relative Clauses date Posted on July 24, 2013 The post features a song by SHAKIRA containing Relative Clauses. Another post links you to a song by SHANIA TWAIN containing Relative Clauses.
I hope that you enjoy this wonderful song. The music is dynamic, the singer’s voice is fantastic and the language is colourful and powerful. Listen and learn and have fun!
Advanced English students may not need to improve their English just for simple communication. However, if you want to extend your vocabulary and articulate your ideas more clearly, either when speaking or writing, where do you go for advice and information?
Well, firstly, congratulations on coming to this blog! If I don’t have what you are looking for, just leave a comment below, and I will try to find it for you.
Secondly, I will link you to an episode of a TV show called Offsiders. This is an Australian Broadcasting Corporation sports show. I have inserted, below, part of the description of the show directly from the website. While there are many TV shows you could watch to improve your English, I particularly recommend the Offsiders because it features Gerard Whateley asa regular commentator. He is a word-smith! His descriptive language is consise and articulate, his vocabulary brilliant. While many commentators can ‘waffle’ (just go on and on and on etc), Gerard Whateley speaks deliberately and to the point. If you enjoy listening to him, try his other programs.
Barrie Cassidy presents Offsiders on ABC TV each Sunday at 10:30am. The program also appears on ABC News 24 on Sundays at 2:30pm.
A show for anyone who’s serious about sport, Offsiders will provide challenging, insightful, humourous debate about the topic that dominates weekends.
Each week the program brings together the experience and insights of leading sporting commentators and other contributors representing a wide range of opinions.
Gerard Whateley
Gerard Whateley is a broadcaster with ABC Radio Sport fronting the network’s AFL and horse racing coverage. He is an award winning journalist who has worked at the Herald Sun newspaper and for Channel Ten.
Here is the link to the Offsiders. Here is a link to the ABC (Offsiders) site where you can find transcripts to print out. If you want to improve your English writing skills, learn from these articulate, educated people.
The rules for Second Conditional are not difficult, but students don’t always know when to use it. The important thing to remember is that we use Second Conditional when talking aboutHYPOTHETICALsituations.
If I knew magic, I would be able to fly!
If you spoke perfect English, you wouldn’t be reading this blog post.
If you listened to English songs, your English would improve.
If flying wasn’t so expensive, more people would travel.
If I were you, I‘d see a doctor about those headaches.
If I could swim really fast, I could be an Olympic champion!
If you could be any animal, which one would you be?
Often we use Second Conditional to talk about how life could or would be different ifconditions were different – hypothetical situations and their possible results, so we use two clauses. Often we can use either clause first:
You wouldn’t be reading this blog post if you spoke perfect English.
Your English would improveif you listened to English songs.
More people would travelif flying wasn’t so expensive.
I’d see a doctor about those headaches if I were you.
I could be an Olympic champion if I could swim really fast!
Which animal would you beif you could be any animal?
The rule is: IF + PAST Tense, WOULD (or COULD) + BASE Verb eg.
If I won the lottery, I’d buy a Ferrari.
If I wanted to get fit, I could go to a gym.
* Because COULD can be the past tense of CAN, we can use it in either clause.
* We say: If I were you, … not, if I was you, … This is an old, English rule. You will hear native speakers using both: If I were you, … / if I was you … However, If I were you … is more acceptable, especially in formal, academic, or written English.
* If the sentence starts with the ‘IF’ clause, you must put a comma between the two clauses. (- as I just did with this sentence which is First Conditional). When the ‘IF’ clause is at the beginning of the second clause, a comma is not necessary because the word ‘IF’ is a conjunction.
SHAKIRA sings a song called “You’re the One” which contains several Relative Clauses. They are highlighted in bold in the lyrics below.
A Relative Clause is a part of a sentence which contains (at least one) Independent Clause and (at least one) Dependent Clause. An Independent Clause is okay by itself – it doesn’t need help; just like an independent person. A Dependent Clause is not okay by itself – it needs help because it is not finished. Let’s look at one of the sentences in the song:
You’re the one I need.
This sentence contains an Independent Clause – “You’re the one.” This is a complete sentence because it has a subject and a verb and meaning.
This sentence also contains a Dependent Clause – “I need.” This is not a complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb, but no clear meaning. “I need ….” (Need what?) This is not a finished sentence. It is just a Clause. It (I need) relates to (describes) something or someone in the sentence so we can call it a Relative Clause. A Relative Clause is always a Dependent Clause. (“I need” may be a sentence in your language, but it cannot be a sentence in English. The verb NEED is transitive: it must have an object. )
The Relative Clause Pronouns (Markers) which often mark the beginning of Relative Clauses have nearly all been omitted (removed / left out) in the song. This is okay. A Relative Pronoun can be omitted when it is the object of the Relative Clause. Shakira could sing, “You’re the one that I need.” The Relative Clause Pronoun ‘that’ can be left out because it is the object of “I need”. ( I need that.) The BE verb can also be omitted in lines like “… there’s nothing like your smile (which IS) made of sun.”
Shakira could sing, “You’re the one. I need you.” These are two very simple sentences. Often we combine simple sentences to make the meaning clearer and the language more efficient and complex. If you use only simple sentences all the time, you will sound like a child! Don’t worry! If you can understand what you are reading now, you will be able to make complex sentences, as I am writing both simple and complex language!
Shakira doesn’t include all the Relative Clause Pronouns in her song because they don’t all fit the rhythm. It’s that simple! Olivia Newton-John sings “You’re the one that I want” in the Movie GREASE. The Relative Clause Pronoun ‘that’ is included because it fits the rhythm.
* There is more information about Relative Clauses below, after the song lyrics.
There are FIVE RELATIVE CLAUSE MARKERS (RCM): WHO, WHOM, THAT, WHOSE & WHICH (also known as RELATIVE PRONOUNS)
* Relative Clauses (Dependent Clauses) are shown in bold, and the Independent Clauses are shown in red.
WHO – Ellen Degeneres is a personwho(or that) has her own TV show.
WHOM – The singerwhom Ellen is speaking tois called Shakira. (You hear native speakers use ‘who’ in sentences like this. This is not grammatically correct because ‘who’ is a subject pronoun, and ‘whom’ is an object pronoun. Ellen (subject) is speaking to Shakira (object). Who is speaking to whom?)
THAT – “The ELLEN Show” is a popular TV Talk Showthat (or which) is on Monday to Friday.
WHOSE – A celebrity is a personwhose popularity is decided by the public.
WHICH – The TV Talk Showwhich(or that) I watched this morningwas really amusing.
*We OFTEN use BE + going to + base infinitive for Future Plans (see my post April 8, 2013).
When we use BE + going to + base infinitive, it often sounds like ‘gonna‘ + base infinitive. You see ‘gonna‘written a lot in songs. This is okay. However, it is NOT okay to write ‘gonna’in your English writing.
*We ALSO useBE + going to + base infinitive for Predictions based on evidence (when there is evidence.) For example,
you look at the sky and see dark clouds: you say “Oh no, it’s going to rain!” – You know it’s going to rain.
you’re feeling sick because you drank too much beer: you say ” I’m going to be sick!” You know you’re going to vomit.
you’ve gambled a lot of money on a horse race and while you are watching the race, you can see that your horse is winning easily: you say ” He‘s going to win!” You know he’s going to win.
In the following song, The Beatles useBE + going to + base infinitive for Prediction. The singer predicts that a man is ‘going to lose that girl’ because he doesn’t treat her well (evidence – he knows what’s going to happen. He also believes that he knows how the girl is going to react. Perhaps he knows that she is unhappy). He also predicts that he, the singer, ‘will take her out and treat her kind’. This is a Prediction, perhaps a promise, but it is not based on evidence, so he uses ‘will’. He also warns, ‘If you don’t treat her right, my friend, You’re going to find her gone’. This is an example of First Conditional.
Here is the link for the Youtube video: You won’t hear ‘going to’. You will just hear ‘gonna’. (My prediction!)
Song: You’re going to lose that girl by The Beatles
You’re going to lose that girl,
You’re going to lose that girl.
If you don’t take her out tonight,
She’s going to change her mind,
And I will take her out tonight,
And I will treat her kind.
You’re going to lose that girl,
You’re going to lose that girl.
If you don’t treat her right, my friend,
You’re going to find her gone,
‘cause I will treat her right, and then
You’ll be the lonely one.
You’re going to lose that girl,
You’re going to lose that girl.
I’ll make a point
Of taking her away from you, yeah,
The way you treat her what else can I do?
You’re going to lose that girl,
You’re going to lose that girl.
I’ll make a point
Of taking her away from you, yeah,
The way you treat her what else can I do?
If you don’t take her out tonight,
She’s going to change her mind,
And I will take her out tonight,
And I will treat her kind.
You’re going to lose that girl,
You’re going to lose that girl.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
For another song featuring BE + going to + base infinitive for predictions, click here.
The OWL at Purdue is a valuable and easy-to-use site for English students. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/594/2/ This link will take you to four pages on Prepositions with very helpful pictures which show you the meaning.
When you get to the bottom of the first page, click on ‘Next Resource’ to take you to the next page. You will see pictures which explain Prepositions of Direction, Movement, Spacial Relationships, Time and Place etc.
Check your knowledge of Prepositions of Direction – TO, ON, IN, with this exercise – http://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/2/14/35/ or you could try finding your own exercises on their site. Simply click on ‘OWL Exercises’ which is listed on the left side of the page.
You can improve your English Listening in many ways: watching TV or DVDs, listening to songs, having conversations, or watching and listening to English online. You may have noticed that I have linked many of my posts to music videos online (check Categories – ‘Songs’ on the right). This is because I really believe that listening to, and singing, songs are among the easiest and most enjoyable ways to improve your English. Singing with the singer will also help you with stress and timing which are very important.
For a change I thought you might like to try an Online Lab. Click on the link below to take you to the ELLO! website. You will see several different Listening situations. Just click on a picture and listen to the speaker and choose the answer. If you make a mistake, he will repeat the information. When you finish, you can read the transcripts. Click here for the ELLO! site.
English students often get confused with these two tenses because they have only one present tense in their language.
Here is one way you can remember which one to use: If something is happening now and it’s temporary, we usually use Present Continuous Tense (also called Present Progressive). See my post 8 April, 2013, for a further explanation of Present Continuous.
The little girl is whispering to her friend. Photo by saeed karimi, Unsplash.com
Present Simple Tense is not so simple because it doesn’t usually describe actions which are happening now, in the present!
We use Present Simple for: –things that happen once or sometimes, anytime or never: I usuallywrite this blog in the evening or on the weekend. I don’talwayshave time to write about everything I’m teaching at school.
– facts: I have an English blog. Do you have a blog? I live in Australia. What does ‘We can work it out’ mean? The Sydney Opera House is in Australia. It isn’t in Melbourne.
– descriptions of many types of things: The Gold Coast has several excellent surf beaches. My daughter sings beautifully. My son is tall, clever, and fun to be with. ‘MovieWorld’ on The Gold Coast is exciting for all the family. It has lots of amazing rides. Mr Bean is angry with the workers.
– schedules and timetables: Class starts at 9.00am and finishes at 11.15am. The train leaves at 6.00pm. It doesn’t leave late.
-routines and habits: I get up at 6.30am. We eat dinner at 7.30pm most nights. We don’tusuallyfinish before 8.30pm.
Mr. Bean´s daily routine
Present Continuous with Mr Bean
Have you noticed that we often use the BE verb and the HAVE verb for Present Simple because they describe the state or condition of things?
We also often use CAN + Base Infinitive to describe possibilities or abilities and even though this is not Present Simple Tense, it is a very common way to talk about things that CAN happen or be true anytime: My daughter can sing. I can sleep late on Saturday mornings but I can’t sleep late on Sundays.
The Beatles have lots of songs which contain Present Simple and Present Continuous verbs. Songs are often short stories describing past feelings and events and hopes for the future,with strong emphasis on what is happening now. I have written the lyrics (words) for their song, We can work it out, below and shown the Present Simple verbs in bold and Present Continuous verbs in RED CAPITALS. Have a look at how CAN is used. Here is the link for a Youtube video.
Song: We Can Work It Out by THE BEATLES
Verse #1 Try to see it my way. Do I have to keep on talking till I can’t go on?
While you see it your way,
(You) Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.
Chorus: We can work it out. We can work it out.
Verse #2 Think of what you’RE SAYING. You can get it wrong and still you think that it’s all right. Think of what I’M SAYING. We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night.
Chorus:
Bridge: Life is very short, and there’s no time For fussing and fighting, my friend. I have always thought that it’s a crime, So I will ask you once again.
Verse #3 Try to see it my way. Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong. While you see it your way, There’s a chance that we might fall apart before too long.
Chorus:
Bridge:
Repeat – Verse #3Chorus:
*************************************************************************
Here are links for other songs containing Present Simple and/or Present Continuous (and other tenses too):
Song: Eight Days a Week by The Beatles (* The phrase in the song: ‘I aint got nothing’ means ‘I don’t have anything’)
Song: My Heart’s a Stereo by Gym Class Heroes & Adam Levine
I have included this song because the chorus (shown below) is almost completely Present Simple (shown in bold). The singer, Adam Levine, compares his love to music, his heart-beats to musical notes. However, the rap verses are much more difficult to understand so don’t try unless you are an advanced student as they contain a lot of slang and idioms. For advanced students, this whole song is a wonderful example of the use of metaphors.
CHORUS – My heart’s a stereo
My heart’s a stereo. It beats for you so listen close. Hear my thoughts in every note. Make me your radio. Turn me up when you feel low. This melody was meant for you. Just sing along to my stereo.
For more infomation on Present Simple Tense and Present Continuous Tense and practice exercises click here.
Mary's English Blog 