In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Don't you think there are just way too many tenses in the English language? You have the past tense, the perfect past, the present tense and more other tenses that I think I will ever use. Be that as it may, tenses are part and parcel of the English language therefore it is vital that a learner of the language properly understands the different tenses and their usage.
As a start, when do I use the simple past tense?
The simple past tense should be used for describing things that happened in the past.
For example, yesterday I attended my friend's wedding reception. So for verbs that we want to use to describe what happened at the reception should be used with the past tense.
I had Nasi Minyak at the wedding.
The Nasi Minyak was delicious.
Simple is it not? For things that happened in the past, we should use the past tense.
Allah knows best.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Common
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
When do we use the adjective common? Here are several cases in which I would use the word common:
1) When we share something.
Example:
In these darkest hours, let us forget our differences and unite to face the common enemy!
2) When something is widespread.
Examples:
That is a common mistake.
Mat Rempits in Shah Alam? Sadly, that is a common sight.
3) Normal, nothing special.
Example:
I am but a common man.
So those are the cases in which I would use the word common. Interestingly, I have also seen the word common prevalently used in such phrases:
Common Manchester United!
Common Ahmad!
This is actually a common mistake. In cases like this, the word common should be replaced with the proper phrase: come on.
"Come on" is used when you want to urge someone to perform better.
For example, during a match, you would say "Come on Manchester United!". In this case, you are urging the football club to play better.
Hopefully this has helped my readers to understand the difference between common and come on.
Allah knows best.
When do we use the adjective common? Here are several cases in which I would use the word common:
1) When we share something.
Example:
In these darkest hours, let us forget our differences and unite to face the common enemy!
2) When something is widespread.
Examples:
That is a common mistake.
Mat Rempits in Shah Alam? Sadly, that is a common sight.
3) Normal, nothing special.
Example:
I am but a common man.
So those are the cases in which I would use the word common. Interestingly, I have also seen the word common prevalently used in such phrases:
Common Manchester United!
Common Ahmad!
This is actually a common mistake. In cases like this, the word common should be replaced with the proper phrase: come on.
"Come on" is used when you want to urge someone to perform better.
For example, during a match, you would say "Come on Manchester United!". In this case, you are urging the football club to play better.
Hopefully this has helped my readers to understand the difference between common and come on.
Allah knows best.
Friday, March 06, 2009
An history? Seriously, why?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Everyone who knows even a little bit of English should know that the article 'a' is used before words that do not start with a vowel.
For example: a loaf of bread.
However, when the word starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o or u), the article 'a' becomes 'an'.
For example: an apple.
Simple, is it not?
Well, no. English can never be this simple. There are always exceptions to the rules. Always.
So for words that do start with a vowel but somehow pronounced like they start with a consonant(letters which are not vowels) , the article used is 'a'.
For example: a uniform
Because uniform is pronounced you-nee-form.
How about words that start with a consonant, but the consonant is silent? Like that of the word 'hour'.
In this case, we use 'an' instead of 'a'.
For example: an hour.
So these are the rules and exceptions that determine the usage of a and an in English.
If I were to ask you, which article would you use for the word 'history'?
According to what we just learnt, it should be 'a', right? As in, 'a history'.
But why, oh why do we still see people use 'an history' in writings?
I am aware of the fact that people used to write it that way. The keywords here are 'used to'. Not 'we still do' but 'used to'. When old people write 'an history', I am probably okay with that but when people who are just as young as I am write 'an history', that is just being pretentious.
Allah knows best.
Everyone who knows even a little bit of English should know that the article 'a' is used before words that do not start with a vowel.
For example: a loaf of bread.
However, when the word starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o or u), the article 'a' becomes 'an'.
For example: an apple.
Simple, is it not?
Well, no. English can never be this simple. There are always exceptions to the rules. Always.
So for words that do start with a vowel but somehow pronounced like they start with a consonant(letters which are not vowels) , the article used is 'a'.
For example: a uniform
Because uniform is pronounced you-nee-form.
How about words that start with a consonant, but the consonant is silent? Like that of the word 'hour'.
In this case, we use 'an' instead of 'a'.
For example: an hour.
So these are the rules and exceptions that determine the usage of a and an in English.
If I were to ask you, which article would you use for the word 'history'?
According to what we just learnt, it should be 'a', right? As in, 'a history'.
But why, oh why do we still see people use 'an history' in writings?
I am aware of the fact that people used to write it that way. The keywords here are 'used to'. Not 'we still do' but 'used to'. When old people write 'an history', I am probably okay with that but when people who are just as young as I am write 'an history', that is just being pretentious.
Allah knows best.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Atrocious
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
atrocious adjective - extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, or brutal
Atrocious. That is how you describe the massacre of the Palestinian people by the Israeli army.
So far, the merciless bombardments and assaults by the Israeli army that began 27 December 2008 have reportedly killed 1010 Palestinians, amongst them 315 children.*
Can we afford not to care about it? Would it be just if we do nothing about it?
Although we may be powerless to stop the butchering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, God willing, we can help them get through this.
Please, donate to the Palestine Relief Fund.
PALESTINE RELIEF FUND
Cheque payable to MERCY MALAYSIA
CIMB Account No : 1424-000-6561053
Futher information can be found here.
Allah knows best.
* Source: Palestinian Ministry of Health/ Ocha
atrocious adjective - extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, or brutal
Atrocious. That is how you describe the massacre of the Palestinian people by the Israeli army.
So far, the merciless bombardments and assaults by the Israeli army that began 27 December 2008 have reportedly killed 1010 Palestinians, amongst them 315 children.*
Can we afford not to care about it? Would it be just if we do nothing about it?
Although we may be powerless to stop the butchering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, God willing, we can help them get through this.
Please, donate to the Palestine Relief Fund.
PALESTINE RELIEF FUND
Cheque payable to MERCY MALAYSIA
CIMB Account No : 1424-000-6561053
Futher information can be found here.
Allah knows best.
* Source: Palestinian Ministry of Health/ Ocha
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Heartless
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
What is heartless? Would it be heartless if our government suddenly decides to privatise its one and only institution dedicated to the well being of our heart?
heartless - adjective Devoid of compassion or feeling; pitiless
Allah knows best.
What is heartless? Would it be heartless if our government suddenly decides to privatise its one and only institution dedicated to the well being of our heart?
heartless - adjective Devoid of compassion or feeling; pitiless
Allah knows best.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Flower for baking?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Living with a family that is involved in the Kek Lapis business, the house smells deliciously of Kek Lapis all the time. Sounds good eh?
Not so if you are trying to cut down your sugar consumption. The sugary smell can be too tempting for my weak soul.
One fine day, while my sister was busy preparing Kek Lapis in the kitchen and the house was unsurprisingly filled with the fruity fragrance of the Kuih, I decided that I needed to go out to get away from the delicious aroma lest my hope of cutting down my sugar consumption be not more than that of a new year's resolution.
Living with a family that is involved in the Kek Lapis business, the house smells deliciously of Kek Lapis all the time. Sounds good eh?
Not so if you are trying to cut down your sugar consumption. The sugary smell can be too tempting for my weak soul.
One fine day, while my sister was busy preparing Kek Lapis in the kitchen and the house was unsurprisingly filled with the fruity fragrance of the Kuih, I decided that I needed to go out to get away from the delicious aroma lest my hope of cutting down my sugar consumption be not more than that of a new year's resolution.
As I took the car keys that were hanging on the wall, my sister spotted me and approached me with a RM50 bill, (Do take note that all this is made up because my family doesn't speak English at home.)
"Can you get me something while you are out?"
Being the helpful brother that I am, I happily obliged.
Being the helpful brother that I am, I happily obliged.
"Sure. What do you need, kak?"
"I need 5 kilograms of flower. I received a new order for more Kak Lapis and we are running short on flower. The usual type would do. Be sure to get a receipt."
Flower? Flower for baking? My sister wants me to buy flowers? By the kilo? She is kidding me right?
"I need 5 kilograms of flower. I received a new order for more Kak Lapis and we are running short on flower. The usual type would do. Be sure to get a receipt."
Flower? Flower for baking? My sister wants me to buy flowers? By the kilo? She is kidding me right?
Well since we were in the mood for jesting, it seemed that there was no harm in seeing how much funnier this joke could get.
"Usual eh Kak? Is that hibiscus or sunflower? I seem to forget." I said that with a wry smile.
"Usual eh Kak? Is that hibiscus or sunflower? I seem to forget." I said that with a wry smile.
To my amazement, my sister stared blankly at my face as I said that.
"Huh? What?"
Judging by the expression on her face, maybe my sister was not joking after all.
"You said you wanted flowers right? So that's why I asked hibiscus or sunflower? I don't know why you would need them for the Kek Lapis, though. For the scent perhaps?"
I asked her, hopefully seeking explanation for the need of flowers.
"Oi, I meant tepung lah. Thats how the word flour is pronounced. Go look it up in a dictionary."
"Huh? What?"
Judging by the expression on her face, maybe my sister was not joking after all.
"You said you wanted flowers right? So that's why I asked hibiscus or sunflower? I don't know why you would need them for the Kek Lapis, though. For the scent perhaps?"
I asked her, hopefully seeking explanation for the need of flowers.
"Oi, I meant tepung lah. Thats how the word flour is pronounced. Go look it up in a dictionary."
Ah... Flour! My sister wants me to buy flour, not flower! Oh, to be a fool.
"Oh, tepung ke? My mistake! Sorry eh kak." I apologised to my sister before I went out the house in shame, thinking that my sister needed flowers for baking.
Later that day, I did look up the word flour in the dictionary and it is indeed pronounced in a way similar to the word flower.
Allah knows best.
Allah knows best.
Flour pronounciation at www.howjsay.com
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Second last?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Second last.
'Second last' is a phrase which is used to describe something that comes before the last thing.
For example:
".... the second last thing we did at the event was to have him come up to the podium to give a speech. "
Alternatively, we could use the word 'penultimate' in place of 'second last'.
According to Dictionary.com
penultimate - adjective: next to last
So, instead of using "second to last" we could rephrase it like this:
" ... the penultimate thing we did at the event was to have him come up to the podium to give a speech. "
Allah knows best.
Second last.
'Second last' is a phrase which is used to describe something that comes before the last thing.
For example:
".... the second last thing we did at the event was to have him come up to the podium to give a speech. "
Alternatively, we could use the word 'penultimate' in place of 'second last'.
According to Dictionary.com
penultimate - adjective: next to last
So, instead of using "second to last" we could rephrase it like this:
" ... the penultimate thing we did at the event was to have him come up to the podium to give a speech. "
Allah knows best.
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