All About English Grammar & Vocabulary

[The Alternative Story]

starlight1968sg:

Thanks TAS for sharing.
I am unaware that we need to put the article \"the\" for USA.
eg: Is the below sentence grammatically correct?
Do you like to go to (the) USA?
Do you like to go to (the) Europe?

Hi starlight,

Actually for USA, many of us just say \"USA\" without the 'the' in front.
That is a more informal way of speaking but in a more formal written
form, the 'the' is required.

Hence, for your eg:

- Do you like to go to the USA?

this is correct, we can also say 'Do you like to go to USA'
but that is correct only in an informal spoken context.

For your next eg:

- Do you like to go to (the) Europe?

this is wrong, as Europe is the name of a continent,
it already singles out the continent by giving the name.
Hence 'the' is not required as 'the' is only needed to
single out a specific member from a group.

For 'United States of America', there are many different
states in the world and you need 'the' to specify that you
are only referring the 'United States'.

These examples below require 'the' in front of them:

- The United Kingdom (there are many kingdoms, we are
singling out only the UK)

- The Republic of China or any other country (when there is
the word 'republic' in front, you need 'the' as there are many
republics and we are only referring to a specific republic)

TAS

[meimeitan]

Hi TAS


Could u help out the following T & S?

The girls refused to talk to each other. They should work out their differences.

Instead of ____________________________________________.

Thanks.

[janet88]

meimeitan:

Hi TAS


Could u help out the following T & S?

The girls refused to talk to each other. They should work out their differences.

Instead of ____________________________________________.

Thanks.

Can I try ?
Instead of refusing to talk to each other, the girls should work out their differences.

[The Alternative Story]

meimeitan:

Hi TAS


Could u help out the following T & S?

The girls refused to talk to each other. They should work out their differences.

Instead of ____________________________________________.

Thanks.

Hi meimeitan,

Janet Lee's answer is correct For 'instead of', the clause
after it must be a noun or a gerund (a gerund is a specific
type of noun phrase with the verb changing to 'ing' form).
A gerund is not a verb.

There are many such types of synthesis questions where the question
requires a change in the verb to a gerund/noun phrase form.

Eg:

- Despite/In spite of

Qn- I got wet even though I brought an umbrella with me.

Ans- Despite bringing an umbrella with me(gerund), I got wet.

Eg:

- Upon

Qn- When I arrived at the airport, I saw that the popstar had arrived.

Ans- Upon arriving at the airport (gerund), I saw that the popstar
had arrived.

OR

Ans- Upon arrival at the airport (noun phrase), I saw that
the popstar had arrived.

TAS

[meimeitan]

Hi All,


thanks for prompt reply. Great!

meimeitan

[meimeitan]

Hi!


How about the following T & S:

The frogfish uses a certain part of its body to attract its prey. The decoy fish also uses a certain part of its body to attract its prey.

Both _________________________________________________________.

The fish is used in plural form, how about the prey?

Thanks :lol:

meimei tan

[janet88]

meimeitan:

Hi!


How about the following T & S:

The frogfish uses a certain part of its body to attract its prey. The decoy fish also uses a certain part of its body to attract its prey.

Both _________________________________________________________.

The fish is used in plural form, how about the prey?

Thanks :lol:

meimei tan

Both the frogfish and decoy fish use a certain part of their bodies to attract their prey. [Just trying]

[The Alternative Story]

meimeitan:

Hi!


How about the following T & S:

The frogfish uses a certain part of its body to attract its prey. The decoy fish also uses a certain part of its body to attract its prey.

Both _________________________________________________________.

The fish is used in plural form, how about the prey?

Thanks :lol:

meimei tan

Hi meimei,

Janet Lee is right as 'prey' when used in the plural or singular form
is always 'prey'.

It is good to get the children to know which words act in such a manner.

We have listed a few for you:
(no change in the word whether it is in the singular or plural form)

- deer
- sheep
- salmon
- aircraft
- series

TAS

[janet88]

I was trying my luck for the #2 question.

English grammar is getting tougher now. I have problems explaining to my son past perfect tense and present/past participle.

As for this word ‘gerund’, it’s really greek to me. Went to Popular for my son as reference for English but Preston is not detailed.

[The Alternative Story]

[Editor's note: Topic selected & edited for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/short-explanation-more-complex-grammar.]

janet_lee88:

I was trying my luck for the #2 question.
English grammar is getting tougher now. I have problems explaining to my son past perfect tense and present/past participle.

As for this word 'gerund', it's really greek to me. Went to Popular for my son as reference for English but Preston is not detailed.

Hi Janet Lee,

For some children who read a lot and can pick up the grammar subconsciously, grammar will seem easy for them. However for
many children, while they may be able to understand the easier grammar
items, they have difficulty in understanding the more complex ones.

The difference between past perfect tense and past tense has been
explained under English Creative Writing thread.

For a shortened explanation, the past perfect tense is used
mainly when there are 2 actions and one action happened before
another action.

- I had brushed (past perfect tense) my teeth before I went (past tense)
to bed.

The 'brushing of teeth' has to be finished before the 'going to bed'

Hence while both actions happened in the past, the action that happened
earlier in the past is in the past perfect tense.

For present perfect tense and present tense, the present
perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the
past but is still continuing or has just been completed.

- I have lived here for many years. (started living from a time in the
past but still continuing till today)

- I have just gotten back from Grandmother's house. (action started
in the past but has just been completed)

For present tense, it is used to indicate an action that is happening
presently or habitually.

- I swim everyday (habit)

For gerunds, it sounds complicated, but it is just a noun that has the 'ing' form in it.

- Swimming (gerund) is my hobby - 'Swimming' is the name
of your hobby.

Preston Primary English should still be available, perhaps you could ask
the staff about it?

TAS