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 Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:32 am Now |
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| tung quoc wrote: | Dear teachers,
Where shoul I put the adverb now in this sentence:
1. She plays the piano better now than she did.
2. Now she plays the piano better than she did.
3. She plays the piano now better than she did.
4. She plays the piano better than she did now.
5. She plays now the piano better than she did.
6. She now plays the piano better than she did.
Is there any other positions?
Tung Quoc |
Hi Tung Quo
The correct sentence is :
Now she is playing the piano better than she did.
or
She is playing the piano better now than she did it last month.
or.
She is a better piano player now than she was a month ago.
Regards, |
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teia_petrescu
New Member
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Romania
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:39 am Where shoul I put the adverb NOW? |
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Hi Teia
I think you missed the point of Quoc's question completely.
| Quote: | | Where should I put the adverb now in this sentence: |
Quoc simply wants to know where you can put the word now in the sentence.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using the simple present tense in Quoc's sentences ("plays the piano"). As to your suggestions, I'd be more comfortable with the first sentence if your reason for using the present continuous were clearer:
Now she is playing the piano better than she did five minutes ago.
In your second sentence, the word it must be deleted and the simple present would be an appropriate choice of tense.
She plays the piano better now than she did last month.
Hi Quoc
Using the simple present tense of the verb play in your sentence is not wrong. It's fine. Regarding where you can put the word now, I would say 1, 2, 3 and 6 are correct.
The placement of the word now is wrong in sentences 4 and 5.
Amy
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 6589
Location: USA
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 13:51 pm Where shoul I put the adverb NOW? |
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Dear teacher,
If I replace the adverb "now" with the adverb "just now", can the sentence be in the present tense?( Or the sentence has to be in the progressive tense?) If not, why the sentence can be in the present tense with now but not with right now?
Right now she plays the piano better than she did five minutes ago.
Right now she is playing the piano better than she did five minutes ago.
Please give me all positions possible of "right now" in this case.
Best regards
Quoc |
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tung quoc
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 372
Location: VIETNAM
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 14:00 pm Where shoul I put the adverb NOW? |
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Hi Quoc
| Quote: | Right now she plays the piano better than she did five minutes ago.
Right now she is playing the piano better than she did five minutes ago.
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I don't like the first sentence at all. Instead of the second, I'd prefer this:
Right now she is playing the piano better than she was five minutes ago.
.................................................................................("was" = was playing)......
I personally wouldn't put right now anywhere else in the sentence except possibly after the word "better". The best place is at the beginning.
Using right now is a stronger indicator for the present continuous than the word now. The word now can be used with a number of tenses.
With your original sentence, you need to decide whether you are talking about "general skill or ability" or about a "single current activity".
General skill/ability: "She plays the piano extremely well now. She's had lessons for 10 years. Nine years ago she played quite badly."
Single current activity: "She is playing that piece exceptionally well (right now). Today's performance is much better than yesterday's performance."
Be very careful about using just now.
Just now means just a moment ago: "Who was at the door just now?" (simple past tense!)
And not just now usually means not at this particular moment: "I don't want to do it just now."
Amy
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 6589
Location: USA
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| Tue Aug 15, 2006 18:21 pm Where shoul I put the adverb NOW? |
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| Yankee wrote: | Hi Teia
I think you missed the point of Quoc's question completely.
| Quote: | | Where should I put the adverb now in this sentence: |
Quoc simply wants to know where you can put the word now in the sentence.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using the simple present tense in Quoc's sentences ("plays the piano"). As to your suggestions, I'd be more comfortable with the first sentence if your reason for using the present continuous were clearer:
Now she is playing the piano better than she did five minutes ago.
In your second sentence, the word it must be deleted and the simple present would be an appropriate choice of tense.
She plays the piano better now than she did last month.
Hi Quoc
Using the simple present tense of the verb play in your sentence is not wrong. It's fine. Regarding where you can put the word now, I would say 1, 2, 3 and 6 are correct.
The placement of the word now is wrong in sentences 4 and 5.
Amy |
Thank you for clarifying that Amy
Best wishes,
Teia |
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teia_petrescu
New Member
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Romania
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