Newsletter: Wish you were here

[Noren]

Dear Alan,
It's just great! I really enjoyed reading it.

Noren Lee
_________________
A person who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.

[Saneta]

Hello everyone,
Could you please tell me clearly when we should use the sequence of tenses?
Shouldn't it be:
1.,,He explained that there had been really no need to put on the air conditioning because it wasn't really hot...''instead of:
2.,,He explained that there was really no need to put on the air conditioning because it wasn't really hot...''
Torsten has written that: ,,there was really no need'' referes to past, but the meaning is:,,there is really no need'' in the past? Is the sequence of tenses in sentence 2., yes or not: ,, there is really no need'' to ,,there was really no need''?

[Mister Micawber]

I haven't read Alan's narrative, but:

1. He explained that there had been really no need -- This tense is not required unless there is another past action in the narrative whose time of occurrence relative to this need is otherwise unclear. Past perfect may also be used to stress the priority of one past action over another.

2. He explained that there was really no need-- I don't really understand your concern about this, Saneta. It is indeed a statement about the past, though the need may still exist at this point in the story. If the need still exists, then 'He explained that there is really no need' is OK, too.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Saneta]

Thank You MIster Micawber!!!:)

[Noren]

Hi Saneta,
Which country are you from? Is the photo that you have placed here is really you or somebody else? Thanks a lot for your quick response.

Noren Lee
NEPAL
_________________
A person who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.

[Jose]

Hi Alan!

I don't have many comments but I just want to reply. Your story is very good.You are very creative. I also listened to your voice messages.
Next time!
Thank you very much!
Jose

[Jose]

Hi Mister Micawber!

You wrote the story? That's really wonderful.

Jose

[Mister Micawber]

No, Alan wrote it.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Prezbucky]

The title of this topic reminds me of a Mark Wills song from a decade ago:

"Wish You Were Here"

They kissed goodbye at the terminal gate
She said, "You're gonna be late if you don't go."
He held her tight, said "I'll be all right,"
"And I'll call you tonight to let you know."

He bought a postcard
On the front it just said "Heaven"
With a picture of the ocean and the beach.
And the simple words he wrote her
Said he loved her and they told her
How he'd hold her if his arms could reach

"Wish you were here. Wish you could see this place.
Wish you were near. I wish I could touch your face.
The weather's nice, it's paradise, it's summertime all year.
There's some folks we know. They say 'Hello' and 'Miss you so'.
Wish you were here."

She got a call that night, but it wasn't from him.
It didn't sink in right away.
"Ma'am, the plane went down. Our crews have searched the ground.
No survivors found," she heard him say.

But somehow she got a postcard in the mail that just said "Heaven"
With a picture of the ocean and the beach.
And the simple words he wrote her
Said he loves her and they told her
How he'd hold her if his arms would reach:

"Wish you were here. Wish you could see this place.
Wish you were near. I wish I could touch your face.
The weather's nice, it's paradise, it's summertime all year
There's some folks we know, they say 'Hello' and 'Miss you so'
Wish you were here."

The weather's nice in Paradise
It's summertime all year
And all the folks we know
They say "Hello, I miss you so, wish you were here."
Wish you were here.
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Noren]

Hi Prezbucky,
Wow, it's very touching. I read and re-read your poem. Are you a poet or occasionally you write 'em?
Are you from Nashville,Tennessee, or rather a citizen of the USA? I mean Caucasian (Europeon Blood). Please don't think otherwise. I am only asking you...
What's your first name? What do you do? Can you tell me some info about you? I will appreciate it very much if you don't mind. I am sorry if this msg. makes you angry or mad. I am very much interested in America (USA), the language, English aside from many other things. In short, I am teaching myself all about the US by means of the books and the Internet (and of course from the TV). Maybe you will help me in some way or ways in my American Studies. Thank you very much. In the hopes of your response.

Noren Lee
NEPAL

PS: I will write you more about me not now, but later in details. Thanks once again.
_________________
A person who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.

[Thunu]

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Hello Alan

Thank you for your clear explanation. The reason I raised those questions is that sometimes idioms and phrases are rather complicated and it's difficult for me to memorize.
If you didn't explain them in those essays, I wouldn't be able to understand them clearly.
I hope I'll get more essays from programme.

Thank you once again.

Regards,

Thu
_________________
Reach an agreement as ploughing, don't let argument happen at crops.

[Sayyida]

Dear all
It's very interesting story. I have read whole the pages. I would like to honestly said that when I was read it i feel it was so heard. however I had started to read after read some paragraph i feeld its no heard. Its really interesting. Thankyou so much.
Sayyida

[Morteza]

Hi Dear Alan,
Great Job!Nice work!
The style of your writing is fascinating.It is always the envy of Me.
Speaking frankly,I felt a wave of envy towards You,on reading your essay.
However,I wish you "Bon Voyage" on your trips from now on.
Morteza

[Alan]

Hi Morteza,

Thank you for your kind message.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Styrisgeorge]

Hi, ALAN G........ N every1 who is viewing this form ryt now.
I'm interrogating 1st tym on this forum. If any1 has answer reply me as quick as possible. I just wanted 2 know about Dynamic and Stative verb. Please reply me shortly ............ Luking 4ward 2 reply