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 #32 (permalink) Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:51 am I've been teaching it for years. |
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One thing for sure, Miss/Mrs/Mr Cerberus, is that I am not as gentlemanly as you. Let me ask you a few questions and I am sure you will answer them like a gentleman.
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| First of all, I can only delete a user account if it is a spam account, but never a single post, because I am no moderator. |
1. I am no moderator, too, but I am about three years "older" than you. Like other "no moderators", I can never delete anything on this website. Why and how can you do that? Are you not special? How can we believe you and all the "authorities" of this site?
2. I hate spams, too, and I respect your opinion on this point: we should have some rules in any activities including that of this forum. However, people with authorities tend to misuse them for their own interests or purposes as they stay in authority for a long time, or even a short time. That's why we are called sinners (as one aspect) in western culture and the democratic system has been established first in western countries. If the misuse also happens in here, it is worse than spams and the misusers worse than ungentlemen. Don't you agree?
3. It seems to me that we have something in common, especially concerning the gentlemanship. However, how to define a real gentleman? If a person seemingly polite but cowardly uses his/her power in treating the weak or ignoring fair play spirit, can she/he be considered as a gentle(wo)man?
4. After all, we should respect free speech to become a gentleman, shouldn't we?
I am looking forward to your gentlemanly reply.
Best regards,
James |
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James
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| #33 (permalink) Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:35 am I've been teaching it for years. |
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Ok, bear with me guys, as I decided to post my essays here to keep honing my skills on present perfect tense.
Here goes: :)
I Was Born for Success
When I was a child, I was a very awkward skinny guy who was always being picked on. I failed with my grades, in my relationship with my family, in my social life, and just in everything I did. Two years ago, I finally decided to get my life figured out. I started reading books on self-improvement as much as I could to began my path for my biggest goals and aspirations. I started to work on removing my bad habits like alcoholism, and anything else that were holding me back to helped me gain more focus in life.
As I was surfing the Internet to have more resources for self-improvement, I found a guy who teaches a philosophy of life that fascinates me. That man, who also became my mentor, tells us his student that “If you are in any point in your life when you’re about to decide between two distinct choices, be sure to choose the one that gives you the best memories”. I traveled to Austin months ago to meet with him so I could learn more about his teachings. I was inspired when he told me how similar his story was when he was starting out in life to mine now that I’m starting out. I still remember when he said to me to keep doing only what I love.
I’ve been honing my writing skills for two weeks to prepare myself to become a successful article marketer very soon. I gained friends I can connect with on times when I am in trouble, who encourage me as well to keep moving forward. I am grateful to have parents who give me financial support for all my needs for success. With these progress that I have made, I really do feel that it's just a matter of time for my success.
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 Aikuzo
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| #34 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:24 am I've been teaching it for years. |
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| James wrote: |
| One thing for sure, Miss/Mrs/Mr Cerberus, is that I am not as gentlemanly as you. |
This reminds of the time my friend went to visit a Chinese philosopher for advice on one matter or another. He was widely known as having attained the utter limits of courtesy, neglecting neither punctilio nor geniality, displaying a sincere interest in his guests while meticulously caring for their comfort. Planning to show him at least as much kindness and politeness, she dressed her best and brought a Ming statuette that had belonged to her grandmother, which she knew fitted perfectly in his collection. She would not have it be said that her courtesy was any less than that of another.
He received her most cordially, performed all the necessary bows and compliments to perfection, asked her sincerely about her trip, &c. She for one assured him of the high regard in which she held his knowledge, praising his work and showing a real interest in it. He presented her the finest rice cookies his wife had baked that very day, waited for just the right amount of time before offering her more tea, and gave her the impression that her insights into his work were original and fascinating.
She actually enjoyed their conversation very much; so much so, that for a split second she picked up her cup but left the saucer on the table. She immediately realized her mistake and gracefully put the cup back; even though he didn't seem to notice her lapse at all, she was forced to admit that his hospitality and politeness, on the other hand, had been impeccable.
Since the length of her visit was now nearing its proper limit, she considered it a fitting moment to give him the statuette. "My dear friend, it is about time that I should leave you to your musings. Oh, I nearly forgot: there is this trinket from my grandmother's attic that I wish to give you; I do not know much about this kind of sculpture myself, so that I hope it will give you more joy than it could me." He did not, of course, fall into the trap of refusing a gift: he accepted it with profuse thanks, while exuberantly expressing his admiration of it. She said it was nothing, thanked him most warmly for his willingness to receive her, and let him escort her to the door.
He told her what a pity it was that she couldn't stay longer, how inspiring her ideas had been, and what joy it would bring him to soon receive her again - and yet, though he never so much as blinked, she had an intuitive feeling as though he had to admit that her courtesy had been greater than his. He performed the most elaborate bow possible that did not exceed the bounds of etiquette, handed her a basket of cookies, complimented her again on her philosophical theories, &c. She accepted all with the utmost gratitude, made him even more compliments, curtsied profusely, &c., &c.
Without another lapse of manners she reached the safety of the gate to the street. How wonderful that she should have won! He must surely be upset now that her courtesy had trumped his. She felt very good about herself. Then like lightning the idea struck her: he must have let her win on purpose. In so doing he had made her feel very good about herself, thereby ultimately being the most courteous one himself. She cursed herself for her own naivete.
Then again, he had caused her to curse herself: was that not a bad thing? Had she won after all? Pondering this infinite loop she left the village. |
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Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1346
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| #35 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:55 am I've been teaching it for years. |
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| James wrote: |
...
1. I am no moderator, too, but I am about three years "older" than you. Like other "no moderators", I can never delete anything on this website. Why and how can you do that? Are you not special? How can we believe you and all the "authorities" of this site?
I am no authority, nor am I special: I was just given the option of cleaning out some spam accounts because I had shown my interest in it. What should I gain by lying? What do you hope to gain by your insinuations? I cannot think of anything. Either way this matter holds no interest for me.
2. I hate spams, too, and I respect your opinion on this point: we should have some rules in any activities including that of this forum. However, people with authorities tend to misuse them for their own interests or purposes as they stay in authority for a long time, or even a short time. That's why we are called sinners (as one aspect) in western culture and the democratic system has been established first in western countries. If the misuse also happens in here, it is worse than spams and the misusers worse than ungentlemen. Don't you agree?
Perhaps so; but abuse of power is bad in any system. One might even say that it is less harmful in democratic countries because it is more easily corrected.
3. It seems to me that we have something in common, especially concerning the gentlemanship. However, how to define a real gentleman? If a person seemingly polite but cowardly uses his/her power in treating the weak or ignoring fair play spirit, can she/he be considered as a gentle(wo)man?
That is not really a fact but rather a matter of definition, which each can frame for himself. But I think you and I have similar ideas on this.
4. After all, we should respect free speech to become a gentleman, shouldn't we?
That is a bit too specific for my taste. If it should be best to restrict free speech in order to help others, that would not be rude or unethical by definition.
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Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1346
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| #36 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:44 am I've been teaching it for years. |
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| Cerberus™ wrote: |
| Pondering this infinite loop she left the village. |
Very nice. You made me feel that I could afford to leave everything else behind or for the next century.
Like her, I am involved in this infinite loop, too. She felt good first and cursed next because she realized she had been made feel so. The problem is, could the wise man possibly feel cursed, too, after he realized that he had in fact made the girl feel cursed?
We are, more or less, all in this loop ourselves, aren't we? We make money to feel good at the cost of others losing money, gain power at the cost of others losing power, win at the cost of others losing... Alas, this planet is not a utopia! But that's alright, and that's human.
If we are satisfied with being a teacher, a student, a wise man, a girl..., we'd better forget about the loop, and just play the games with others, making efforts to win the losing games. If we are not, we'd better recall the Beatitudes, especially the Second: Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Thanks anyway, Cerberus; you made me "pondering", too.
James |
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James
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| #37 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 18:28 pm I've been teaching it for years. |
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Hi Cerberus,
I think you taught me about 'prehistoric present' before. Can I also use it on "to be" verbs?
- You know what he did yesterday? He throws the coins in the river!
- I remember when I had my first sale when I was young, me and my friends were like "whoaaaaaaa"! (Can I also say 'me and my friends are like' to raise the vividness?)
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I quit studying English years ago and have just come back to study the basics. |
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Aikuzo
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Jul 2009
Posts: 197
Location: Houston, Texas
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| #38 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 18:35 pm I've been teaching it for years. |
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| James wrote: |
| Very nice. You made me feel that I could afford to leave everything else behind or for the next century. |
The old man might very well have felt bad about himself and found himself in the same loop; then again, perhaps he didn't care and just wanted to be extremely polite but remain so on the lowest level.
There are more things that are systems of communicating vessels, money being indeed a prime example, but not that many. At least power can rise without taking it from others, as by technological advancement. Animals successfully form communities because the majority of the things that help them survive and procreate are not systems of c.v..
Incidentally, do you see the above message from Facade? That is most probably incarnation no. 4. Would you delete his account? |
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Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1346
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| #39 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 18:46 pm I've been teaching it for years. |
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| Aikuzo wrote: |
Hi Cerberus,
I think you taught me about 'prehistoric present' before. Can I also use it on "to be" verbs?
- You know what he did yesterday? He throws the coins in the river!
- I remember when I had my first sale when I was young, me and my friends were like "whoaaaaaaa"! (Can I also say 'me and my friends are like' to raise the vividness?) |
Yes, you can use it with "to be" as well. By the way, I think it is best to use the historic present whenever it comes up naturally, not as an artificial instrument that you add based on rules. That said, I will add this:
- A switch from simple past to historic present is like a camera's zooming in: it changes the perspective of the story a bit.
- Such a switch would normally occur when you, for example, switch from background information to main storyline, or when you switch from one subject to another.
- That is why it is a bit less common in the middle of a sentence.
- There are many adverbs that express a time in the past by referring to the present. Yesterday = the day before today; two years ago = two years before now; last summer = the summer before now.
- The historic present is basically free to go where it wants, but it is less likely to be very close to such adverbial constituents, because, with these, a contrast between past and present is in some way still in the writer's mind; the historic present can be used when the writer is not thinking of this contrast because it is not important. |
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Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1346
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| #40 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 22:27 pm I've been teaching it for years. |
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So I'll just have to use my instinct on that and use it in a way that sounds natural for me and for the audience.
Btw, Cerberus, I had my proffesor tutor me for about half an hour yesterday about that first essay(we're half way done). We were laughing the entire time because I kept on looking on each sentence checking to see if I could add a present perfect LOL.
How's my paper? Well, he made many correction on other parts of speech, style etc. But... all my p.p. tenses so far are correct! (YES!)
So far so good, :lol: but thanks! :lol:
_________________
I quit studying English years ago and have just come back to study the basics. |
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Aikuzo
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Jul 2009
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| #41 (permalink) Sat Oct 24, 2009 23:05 pm I've been teaching it for years. |
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| Aikuzo wrote: |
...
How's my paper? Well, he made many correction on other parts of speech, style etc. But... all my p.p. tenses so far are correct! (YES!)
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Excellent! I am not surprised; you already knew more about the p.p. than many others. |
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Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1346
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| #42 (permalink) Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:47 am I've been teaching it for years. |
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NB: I have deleted Facade's account, and as a consequence, some posts of others that referred to his posts. If there is any resulting interruption in the flow of conversation above, my apologies.
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Mister Micawber
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| #43 (permalink) Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:49 am I've been teaching it for years. |
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Thank you so very much indeed, Mr Micawber.
James |
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James
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| #44 (permalink) Sat Oct 31, 2009 14:20 pm I've been teaching it for years. |
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Can I also use p.p. on this manner:
Student(Mr. Balao): (He told the professor to remind everyone to review the 4 chapter quizzes.)
Professor: Listen everyone, Mr. Balao have told me to remind you to go through your four chapters, because a lot of items that shows up in the last tests are the ones that came up first on the quizzes.
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The professor can use p.p. there because he doesn't specify a specific time right? Unless if he were to say it like this: "Mr. Balao told me a while ago to remind you..."
Did I understood it correctly?
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Aikuzo
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| #45 (permalink) Sat Oct 31, 2009 14:57 pm I've been teaching it for years. |
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'Mr. Balao has told me.' Otherwise, yes. (And 'showed up'.)
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| "world affairs section" vs "business section" | What is the negative of have? |
