The merry month of May

[Athina]

HI Alan! It was very interesting. I liked it so much! And what i understood from this essay is that May is a blessed month.

Best regards,
Athina

[Marlen]

Hi Torsten.
I would like a question about grammar. The exercises by incomplete sentences can help me to understand grammar in written texts?

[Shanthisethuraman]

Hi Merlen,
I am shanthisethuraman from India, we both are attending the test in the forum
and thought of asking you and your interest in learning english, to-day I
happend to see your question in the forum of course it is not addressed to
me. I woulld like to tell my opinion about grammer, The exercises by
incomplete sentences cannot help you to understand grammer in written text.
When you complete the sentence only you can understand the grammer
in written text. The exercises cannot be understood by incomplete sentences.

I hope you will understand my point, if there is any mistake please ignore my opinion.

Thank you and we will meet you in the test net.

S.Shanthi

[Minhchau]

Hi Torsten,
In Three-letter word story, there is 1 strange sentence structure I do not understand and never see it before. It is "Let's nor forget the religious significance either."
please help me clarify it. Tks a lot.

[Beeesneees]

Let's not forget the religious significance either.
(When we are thinking about this) we should not forget the religious significance.

When we consider...(a)... let's not forget....(b)... either.
When we consider ...(a)... we should not forget about ...(b)...
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Shanthisethuraman]

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Dear Torsten Sir, Alan Sir and Beesnese,
I would like to thank all of you since I have been learning english through
English-test-net for one year. During this period I had nice experience with
all of you and my beloved learners thorugh this forum, which I really enjoyed
it and want to enjoy in future also.
When I joined in the forum, I found some difficulties to follow the procedure,
due to Torsten Sir's efforts and co-operation I could come like this.
When Torsten asked me to answer some feed back questions in forum, really
I thought he wanted to bring out talent this way, I had attened few questions.
If there is any mistake in my answer immediately he would come behind me
and correct that mistakes. Beesnese Madam also correct my mistake,I would
think that we shouldn't not repeat the mistake again. Definitely I cannot lcome
to their level, because they are born and brought up with english language spoon.
I still find some difficulties in Alan Sir's Essay, but not like before. I will say
"He is father of English" we are all his children/students. The way he is writing
Essay, I cannot imagine him how talent he is, still I want him to write essay in
simple way to reach all leaners. Language coach Mister Micarber who is giving
very good explanation in Business English(Advance) I want to thank him also
for his explanation. Learning Engilsh is not so essay unless we learn properly.
When I joined I thought it is simple and small afterthat only I come to know
learning english like ocean, in that ocean we should know to swim by way
of learning it properly.
I request all the learners to spend sometime daily in the english-test-net
learn not only english but also our culture.

Thank you all onceagain,

S.Shanthi

[Varuna]

hi alan ...
your essay is very informative.....I am honoured to be part of your team...i have one question i was leafing through magazine where i came across line"what do you got for me" Do+ first form is rule so why "got" is used with "do"
varuna

[Shanthisethuraman]

Hi Varuna,

All Alan Sir's Essays and stroies are informative and excellent. Why don't you
try for attending exercises, Ii.e. Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced
exercises. and when you attend for TOEIC LISTENING Part I,II,III,and IV
you will not find time to read magazine. All your doubts will be cleared
by attending these exercises.
Your question : Why do yo got for me?
It should come like this, Why do you get for me?
I hope all your doubts will be cleared when you attend the above exercises.

Thanking you

S.Shanthi

[Marlen]

Hi Torsten.
I would like a question about grammar. The exercises by incomplete sentences can help me to understand grammar in written texts?

[Kati Svaby]

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Dear Alan,

Your first paragraph is a riddle. I tried to guess what can be this three letter word which has a variety of meanings. I hadn't the faintest idea what you were getting at.

In the second paragraph the riddle comes out. This word: May,name of the fifth month of the year, one of the model verbs: 'may'; 'may' can be a noun and means " blossom of hawthorn" because the name of hawthorn bush is known as May tree.

The reminiscence of old Mays when the people erected a huge Maypole decorated with colourful ribbons and some bottles of vine and sausages. The people were dancing and singing around the Maypole. The young boys erected a smaller Maypole in front of the house of the girl who liked to them.

Yes, you are right the children were looking forward to casting their sewn up cloths, what they wore throughout the winter months.

After the Second World war there was a big poverty. I remember that in a family where there were many children they had only one pair of shoes. So they wore these shoes by turns and when they could come to school they said: "I missed because my sister wore the shoes." In May they came to school but barefooted. I have shoes but I was ashamed of taking them, so before going to school I hid them in the cellar.Of course my parents didn't know but the truth always will out. Luckily my parents understood me.

"Never cast a clout till May out". Every nation has similar proverbs.
French: In April, do not shed a single thread; in May, do as you please.
Spanish: Do not leave off your coat till May be part.
Hungarian:/ it rhymes I try to translate/:Look out! Spring is slick. They say when somebody took off your coat sooner.

May fly- we have a folk-song about them: "River Tisza is cemetery when it burst into flowers". When the May flies swarm above the river Tisza. May fly's Hungarian name 'Tisza flower'

In Hungary after 1989 when was change-over few people celebrate May 1-st they think this is a communist holdover and not an international Workers' Day.

At Whit-sun or Pentecost the six year-old girls offer up a sacrifice. I admired this catholic ceremony when these little girls wore beautiful white robe and white tulle voile on her head; they looked like than little bride. They said they are Jesus Christ' bride.

I heard about the Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling event. Every year at the end of May there is a cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill which is very steep. In practice no-one ever catches the cheese, because they roll very quickly,instead they fall, they roll, they slide on their bottoms - they tumble. At the bottom of the hill there is a line of ambulances for the competitors who broke their bones.

Thank you.
Best regard:
Kati Svaby
_________________
We always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love - first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage.

[Danish,Ali]

Dear Alan,

i haven't any word which comprises certain extent to gratitude you people.

Mostly I merely had short time to read my email and to give response upon lession instead fortunately I got some extra time hence i am sending response upon your essay.

I got alot of new words from this essay which will be very useful to me in further.

kindly let me know how could i keep all new words in my mind. Usally I forgot words whenever do'nt utilize consistently.

I would like to explicit my another request that please help me to understand word " BE" with all possible conditions and illustration.

thanks and regards,

[Shanthisethuraman]

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Hi

To remember new words, you will have to note down in the book or any otherthing
which can be used by you very often, or you write down the new words on the
small board something like that and keep it infront of your mirror, you will not forget it
and you should also know to use samething when you talk to your friends or neighbours or you can use it when writing letters to someone.

The Auxiiliary be is used in the formation of continous tenses:

as: You are working : we are writing

Formation of passive:as

The door was opened.

Be followed by the infinitive:
To indicate a plan, arrangement or agreement: as:
I am to see her next week.

We are to be visited next month.

To donate command: as

You are to listen others to improve yourself.

Teacher says you are to prepare for examination.
and it can be used past with perfect infinitive.

You were to be attended the function in the last month but had to postphone until February

If there is any mistake in my writing I request you to correct it.

Thank you

S.Shanthi

[Danish,Ali]

Dear Shanthi,

Please accept my regards for providing such assistance.
would appreciate if you please explain me "BE" from inception to maximum completion step by step through two to three illustrations of each condition.
I have already tried to get it understand but unfortunately couldn't completely understand. Your feedback in this regard will be very helpfull to me. If you please do so.

thanks and best regards.
Ali Danish.

[Beeesneees]

I'm sorry Ali, but that is far too broad a request for us to be able to deal with it adequately.
The verb 'to be' has so many uses and there are so many variations within the tenses. I suggest you start with a dictionary.

Here's a useful one for learners:
http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/be
http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/be_2
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Anh Lan Nguyen]

Dear Alan,

This lesson is very wonderful.

Thanks a lot,
Anh Lan