Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to deliver a discourse before an audience; to reprimand tediously
interest
lecture
piece
dial
TOEIC exam test: Word games online: Free Verb Game Answer
Dictionaries   TOEIC   TOEFL   GMAT   SAT   GRE   MCAT   PCAT   ASVAB   Interviews
Tests   Grammar   Articles   Stories   Shop   Services   English for winners   Speaking
Home   Top 100   Start your FREE email English course now!   Audio Lessons   Jobs
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Use of the word since


Goto page Previous  1, 2
 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
How can I help you? vs. What can I do for you? | Phrasal verb "back off"
Listening exercises
Message
 Author
Use of the word since #16 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:02 pm   Use of the word since		  
bara wrote:
Hi guys,
That was really fantastic discussion. Wink
May I try mine, if you don't mind.

Ever since I've joined this forum, my English has raised up.
Ever since he's bought a car, he hasn't could see us.


Hi Baraa

Your sentences should use the simple past tense after "since" because the verbs "join" and "buy" refer to specific, complete actions in the past which mark the point in time when something else began.

Ever since I joined this forum, my English level has been rising.
Since I joined this forum, my English level has risen.
(Ever) since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to visit us.
(The last sentence is grammatically correct, but I don't understand the logic of the sentence. Cool)

Putting the word "Ever" in front of "since", makes it more likely that you will need the present perfect continuous in the second half of the sentence.

Note: raise is not normally used with "up" and the verb "raise" also always needs an object. Without an object, you should use rise (also without "up").

You can't use can or could in present perfect (or with any modal verb). In order to get the same meaning as "can" in the present perfect or with modal verbs, etc, you have to use "be able to" instead:

He can speak English.
He has been able to speak English since he was a child.
He will be able to speak English after he finishes the course.

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
Use of the word since #17 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:43 pm   Use of the word since		  
You're right, Tamara, about the use of a continuous tense after 'ever since'. This expression means 'from that time onwards', 'continually since that time' and gives the idea of something happening gradually.

Now, as to Baraa's second example, I'd put it like this:

Ever since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to see us (can/could/been able to).

PS: Oops, I hadn't seen your post, Amy.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
Are you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsThis newsletter tells you all about English! Subscribe to free email English courseWhat do you know about the progressive forms?
Use of the word since #18 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 19:45 pm   Use of the word since		  
Amy, Conchita, thank you for the explanation and for the examples.
Quote:
present perfect continuous in the second half of the sentence.

But could you give an example with ‘has been being’ and ‘hasn’t been being’ (??)
(that would be 'the pure' form Smile of present perfect continuous for 'to be' – at least, in my understanding of the form.)
?
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
Use of the word since #19 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 21:23 pm   Use of the word since		  
Quote:
Putting the word "Ever" in front of "since", makes it more likely that you will need the present perfect continuous in the second half of the sentence.

Hi Tamara Very Happy
Some verbs aren't used very often in any continuous tense and "be (able to)" is one of them. That's one of the reasons why I wrote "more likely" and not "always". Cool Sometimes the present perfect simple is better / necessary.

For example, you would never say "He has been being rich ever since he won the lottery." Shocked Instead you would say "He has been rich ever since he won the lottery."

Taking Baraa's car sentence as an example, that sentence is better with present perfect simple in the second half --- no matter whether you begin the sentence with "since" or "ever since" --- because "be able to" is something that you normally would not use in any continuous tense:

Ever since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to visit us.

If you want to use be as a continuous tense ("is being", "has been being", etc.), you should have an especially good reason for doing it. Did you have something specific in mind? Laughing

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
Use of the word since #20 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 21:44 pm   Use of the word since		  
Amy, Conchita and Tamara: Thank you very much for all these explanations. I really appreciate it and it was so useful.

What I meant by my second sentence; Ever since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to see us; is that I implied he became proud because he has got a car therefore he broke up with us and didn't like to visit or see us any more because we are not from his level of richness.

Best Regards
Baraa
Bara
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 60
Has been being #21 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 21:46 pm   Has been being		  
Hi Amy Smile

Sorry for my negligent quoting of your saying.

'Ever since I've met the guru, I have been being in an enlightened mind.' Very Happy
Right? Smile

P.S.
Quote:
If you want to use be as a continuous tense ("is being", "has been being", etc.)...

Just in case (to distinguish Active-Passive) – could you say, which one from the next two examples for Passive form

‘The country has been being bombed since last week.’
‘The country is being bombed since last week.’

sounds better? (without taking into account it’s content Sad )

Tamara
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
Has been being #22 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 22:27 pm   Has been being		  
Tamara wrote:
'Ever since I've met the guru, I have been being in an enlightened mind.' Very Happy
Right? Smile
Crying or Very sad I would say "Ever since I met the guru, I have been in an enlightened mind." Or I might say "Ever since I met the guru, I have been being enlightened on a regular basis." Laughing

P.S.
Quote:
If you want to use be as a continuous tense ("is being", "has been being", etc.)...

Just in case (to distinguish Active-Passive) – could you say, which one from the next two examples for Passive form

‘The country has been being bombed since last week.’
‘The country is being bombed now.’ ("since last week" is better used with present perfect)

sounds better? (without taking into account it’s content Sad )

Hi Tamara

Yes, I'd say you'd probably find be in a continuous form most often in passive sentences.

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
I have been being enlightened on a regular basis. Ever since #23 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:47 am   I have been being enlightened on a regular basis. Ever since		  
Hi Amy

Thank you for the explanation and correcting my sentence. Quite clear (quite clear. Wink ).

Smile She has enlightened my crude mind Smile. I have my mind enlightened. Smile

(Ermm… I have been having my mind enlightened, ever since... Very Happy (it's a joke only)).

Thanks!
Tamara
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
Ummmm... #24 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 13:38 pm   Ummmm...		  
Tamara wrote:
Ermm…


By the way, on the other side of the pond you will not hear "ermm" or even "emm" but rather "um". Laughing

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA
Ummmm... #25 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 14:16 pm   Ummmm...		  
Yankee wrote:
Tamara wrote:
Ermm…


By the way, on the other side of the pond you will not hear "ermm" or even "emm" but rather "um". Laughing

Amy


It?s impressive! Wink One always can learn anything about foreign culture. Laughing

Michael
Fan Of Arabian Horses
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1007
Location: next to Dortmund , Europe
Display posts from previous:   
How can I help you? vs. What can I do for you? | Phrasal verb "back off"
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Use of the word since All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums

Start FREE email English course now!
Join more than 100,000 learners!
Using comma OR not • Meaning of "cerebral" • Susan vs. Suzanne • Difference between crash and crush • Use of comparatives • 'shall be going' OR 'shall be go' • Shakespeare: use 'NOT' after main verb to make negative form • Past simple vs. Present perfect • Negative: I haven't any interesting news for you • While we waited vs. While we were waiting • Phrase "mind you" • Meaning of "step in" • Sounds of the World's Animals • 'Too' – word order (e.g. I too am interested…) • Meaning of 'throw oneself on the mercy of the Church' • "Dear Roland!" vs. "dear Roland, " • Vocabulary (difference in meaning) • Use of the word since • Trim of sails? • Use of the word since

Discover English-test.net
Meaning of peril • Meaning of "to make a fast buck" • That's why we're special! • Can I say "my listening skills"? • PCAT preparation test: Activities for Teaching Vocabulary: English Noun • PCAT exam test: Word games online: Free Noun Game • Define heartburn, immunization, effexor, bromine, activated complex, meninges, intravenous infusion • Pimsleur Italian • Intensive English language training: Synonyms for solitary and single • What Paul Meant audiobook download

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Provided by phpBB ©2001-2009 phpBB Group
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail