ENGLISH
PORTUGUESE
LINGUISTICS & CULTURE
PORTUGUESE
LINGUISTICS & CULTURE
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ENGLISH
PORTUGUESE LINGUISTICS & CULTURE |
| Autor: | Nobrega |
| E-mail: | nobrega@usa.com |
| Data: | 12/SET/2004 3:36 PM |
| Assunto: | Re: to nobrega |
| Mensagem: |
Jennie Language is a "funny" thing. Like trying to "explain" a butterfly to someone, trying to explain the many ways of a language is not always easy. Try an exercise: begin by writing an English sentence; use any words any order any tense any concordance. How do you know if that was "correct ENGLISH"? 1. Does it follow at least a minimum of grammar guidelines? 2. Have you ever heard or read a sentence with similar words, construct, word order, concordance, etc? 3. Bottom line: Can you convey a message to someone? Many English speaking natives will be friendly towards someone honestly attempting to communicate with them. (Unfortunately not ALL, maybe not even MOST, but MANY will). Back to your trip to Paris: Like I said, if you "just" visited Paris last week and are now back home, or with someone who is picking you up at the airport, you could say (remember to say it excitedly!): "This is the first time I have visited Paris" or "This is the first time I have been in/to Paris" The present tense invokes the idea that you are still "on your trip", that is, you are still unpacking, you still need to buy groceries to replenish your refrigerator at home, you have not gone back to work yet (the Paris trip was a vacation, rigth?). Years later, you are showing the pictures to your granddaughter, you’d say: "This was the first time I was in Paris; we visited the City of Lights many times since then!" What else can you say after a trip to Paris? "That was a wonderful trip!" "I hope I get to go back soon!" "This is the only time I go to Paris with you, next time I’m going with somebody else!" "D%^!*, I lost my passport!" Remember, language is flexible!!! There are many "correct" ways of expressing an idea. Be well. CR |
English Made in Brazil -- English, Portuguese, & contrastive linguistics
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME – jennie 10/SET/2004, 10:22 AM Re: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME – Nobrega 10/SET/2004, 2:26 PM to nobrega – jennie 10/SET/2004, 7:17 PM 
Re: to nobrega – Nobrega 
12/SET/2004, 3:36 PM Re: to nobrega – jennie 14/SET/2004, 6:52 PM Re: to nobrega – perfect aspect & english language 15/SET/2004, 6:31 PM Re: to nobrega – Johannes 17/SET/2004, 10:01 AM To: perfect aspect – Johannes 17/SET/2004, 10:14 AM Re: To: perfect aspect – PA & EL 19/SET/2004, 8:00 PM