English learning thread

English learning thread

Idd Ninga said:
ktk lugha ya kingereza kuna nyakati (tenses) kuu 3,ambazo ni :
1>PRESENT TENSE.
2>PAST TENSE.
3>FUTURE TENSE.
Kila tense mmoja imegawanyika mara nne.

PRESENT TENSE
1)simple present tense.
2)present continous tense.
3)present perfect tense.
4)present perfect continous tense.
PAST TENSE
1)simple past tense.
2)past continous tense.
3)past perfect tense.
4)past perfect contious tense.
FUTURE TENSE
1)simple future tense.
2)future continous tense.
3)future perfect tense.
4)future perfect continous tense.
Punde nitaleta maana fomula ya jinsi ya kutumia nyakati hizo.
Click to expand...

Thank you class teacher. we waiting it.
 
Kifyatu said:
I understand, you will get there.

Keep on practicing and please read books and papers/magazines. If you are close to a library, please join it and get some interesting books to read. My suggestion is to go to kids section of the library where their books begin by using simple English words and funny stories. I wouldn't advise you to go around with a dictionary.

Do this: Take a book, read it, if a sentence has word or words you don't know just read the whole sentence and try to get the meaning of the sentence instead of the meaning of each word. If you do this long enough you will start to realize that some words that you don't understand appear more often. At that point it will be OK to look it up in a dictionary.

However, this does not mean you are on your own now. If you have any questions please come back here or at the other English-learning thread and you will get help. Sometimes the help may be delayed because people "wako mzigoni".

Usikate tamaa tutakuja. Hatutakuchoka.

Kila la kheri.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
Open school said:
Thank you class teacher. we waiting it.
Click to expand...

Thank you, teacher. We were waiting for it.

Cultural lesson:

1. Europe and USA, they call their teachers by their last names. (Mr. Johnston or Ms. Johnson (if you don't see a wedding ring) or Mrs. Johnson if you know she is married.

If you forgot their names, "Sir" or "Madam" will do.

2. In Japan, doctors and teachers are called "Sensei" plus their last names.
(Sensei Johnston). They also use "SAN" for both male (Mr.) and female (Mrs. And Ms.) names.
Johnson "San"can be a male or a female teacher.

First names are NEVER used at work.

Junior students also call senior
students "Sensei".
 
Shilewashile said:
Thank you my teacher. we are waiting for it. or thanks my teacher. I shall be waiting for you. Please sir, correct me
Click to expand...

Thanks for your correction to me, I think another underground barrier in english writing is less writing excercise. I have tried to increase my strenght out here after leave you.
 
Duuu natamani san nijue kuongea kiingeleza lkn cwezi KBS
 
Shilewashile said:
Thank you my teacher. we are waiting for it. or thanks my teacher. I shall be waiting for you. Please sir, correct me
Click to expand...

"My teacher" is very respectful way to call our teachers ( mwalimu wangu) in Swahili but it is awkward (strange) in English.

"My" is used to show possession of something, like "my bag" or some kind of a relationship connection like "my husband" or " my girlfriend".

However, you may introduce your teacher to your friends using "my" to announce a relationship:

"This is Mr. Johnson, my English Teacher.

It is like the word "like"and "love". Many new students say " I love you" meaning "I like you very much as a teacher".

However, we only use "love" to express our personal feelings to our loved ones like our wives, children or mothers or very, very close friends.

Teacher and students should always "like" each other.

But we can say " I love chocolate ice-cream" to mean you like it very, very much.
 
Open school said:
I need to understand the uses of A and THE.
Click to expand...


Articles (“a”, “an” and “the”) can be difficult for the English student to master, especially if articles don’t appear in the first language.


Let’s start with a sentence:

“The teacher assigned a book to read.”

There are two articles in this sentence, “the” and “a”.

Now, why did I say “a book” instead of “the book“?
What’s the difference in meaning?

Here, I said “a book” because I was talking about:

a single book (just one); and

I know that you don’t know which book it is.

“The teacher assigned a book to read.”

The article “a”
use with a non-specific noun; or
when you have never talked about that noun before with the listener.

So, in the sentence:

“The teacher assigned a book to read.”

The listener doesn’t know which book was assigned, and it doesn’t really matter yet which specific book was assigned. It’s just one, non-specific book. What’s important is that is must be read.

Other sentence examples:

“I bought a bike today!”

“A good idea is all I need to start a new business.”

“I took a workshop on web design last week.”

“I’m thinking about getting a dog.”

The article “an”
Use “an” instead of “a” before a word that starts with a vowel (aeiou).

Examples:

“I bought an iPhone today.”

“An idea is worth nothing without action.”

“An hour of studying a day is all it takes to improve your English!”

Note: The “h” in “hour” is silent just like "honest".

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
 
Tokyo40 said:
Articles (“a”, “an” and “the”) can be difficult for the English student to master, especially if articles don’t appear in the first language.


Let’s start with a sentence:

“The teacher assigned a book to read.”

There are two articles in this sentence, “the” and “a”.

Now, why did I say “a book” instead of “the book“?
What’s the difference in meaning?

Here, I said “a book” because I was talking about:

a single book (just one); and

I know that you don’t know which book it is.

“The teacher assigned a book to read.”

The article “a”
use with a non-specific noun; or
when you have never talked about that noun before with the listener.

So, in the sentence:

“The teacher assigned a book to read.”

The listener doesn’t know which book was assigned, and it doesn’t really matter yet which specific book was assigned. It’s just one, non-specific book. What’s important is that is must be read.

Other sentence examples:

“I bought a bike today!”

“A good idea is all I need to start a new business.”

“I took a workshop on web design last week.”

“I’m thinking about getting a dog.”

The article “an”
Use “an” instead of “a” before a word that starts with a vowel (aeiou).

Examples:

“I bought an iPhone today.”

“An idea is worth nothing without action.”

“An hour of studying a day is all it takes to improve your English!”

Note: The “h” in “hour” is silent just like "honest".

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Click to expand...

I have understand the uses of AN but the problem is about when should I use a and the in same sentence, sometimes I have use they by thinking are same thing and has apparent meaning.
For example ..
• I am a president of Tanzania.
• I am the president of Tanzania.
 
WHEN TO USE "THE"
GENERAL RULES

Use THE to refer to something which has already been mentioned.

EXAMPLES

On Monday, an unarmed man stole $1,000 from the bank.
THE THIEF hasn't been caught yet.

I was walking past Benny's Bakery when I decided to go into THE BAKERY to get some bread.

There's a position available in my team. THE JOB will involve some international travel.

Use THE when you assume there is just ONE THING in that place, even if it has not been mentioned before.

EXAMPLES

We went on a walk in the forest yesterday.

Where is THE bathroom?

Turn left and go to number 45. Our house is across from THE Italian restaurant.

My father enjoyed THE BOOK you gave him.

Use THE in sentences or clauses where you define or identify a particular person or object.

EXAMPLES

THE MAN who wrote this book is famous.

I scratched THE RED car parked outside.

I live in THE SMALL house with a blue door.

He is THE DOCtOR I came to see.

Use THE to refer to people or objects that are unique.

EXAMPLES

The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.

You can go anywhere in the world.

Clouds drifted across the sky.

The president will be speaking on TV tonight.

The CEO of Total is coming to our meeting.

Use THE before superlatives (the biggest, the most beautiful) and ordinal numbers (first, second).

EXAMPLES

This is the highest building in New York.

She read the last chapter of her new book first.

You are the tallest person in our class.

This is the third time I have called you today.

Use THE with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people.

EXAMPLES

The French enjoy cheese.

The elderly require special attention.

She has given a lot of money to the poor.

Use THE with decades.

EXAMPLES

He was born in the seventies.
This is a painting from the 1820's.

Use THE with clauses introduced by ONLY.

EXAMPLES

This is the only day we've had sunshine all week.

You are the only person he will listen to.

The only tea I like is black tea.

PROPER NOUNS

Use THE with names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, and oceans.

EXAMPLES

They are travelling in the Arctic.
Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
Hiking across the Rocky Mountains would be difficult.


Use THE with countries that have plural names.

EXAMPLES

I have never been to the Netherlands.
Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?


Use THE with countries that include the words "republic", "kingdom", or "states" in their names.

EXAMPLES

She is visiting the United States.
James is from the Republic of Ireland.

Use THE with newspaper names.

EXAMPLES

I read it in the Guardian.
She works for the New York Times.

Use THE with the names of famous buildings, works of art, museums, or monuments.

EXAMPLES

Have you been to the Vietnam Memorial?

We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa.

I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower.

I saw King Lear at the Globe.

Use THE with the names of hotels & restaurants, unless these are named after a person.

EXAMPLES

They are staying at the Hilton on 6th street.
We ate at the Golden Lion.


Use THE with the names of families, but NOT with the names of individuals.

EXAMPLES

We're having dinner with the Smiths tonight.

The Browns are going to the play (theatre not game) with us.

WHEN NOT TO USE "THE"
Do not use the with names of countries (except for the special cases above).

EXAMPLES

Germany is an important economic power.

He's just returned from Zimbabwe.

Do not use THE with the names of languages.

EXAMPLES

French is spoken in Tahiti.
English uses many words of Latin origin.
Indonesian is a relatively new language.

Do not use THE with the names of meals.

EXAMPLES

Lunch is my favorite meal.
I like to eat breakfast early.

Do not use THE with people's names.

EXAMPLES

John is coming over later.
Mary Carpenter is my boss.

Do not use THE with titles when combined with names.

EXAMPLES

Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth's son.

President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

Do not use THE after the 's possessive case

EXAMPLES

His brother's car was stolen.
Peter's house is over there.

Do not use THE with professions

EXAMPLES

Engineering is a well-paid career.
He'll probably study medicine.

Do not use THE with names of shops

EXAMPLES

I'll get the card at Smith's.
Can you go to Boots for me?

Do not use THE with years

EXAMPLES

1948 was a wonderful year.
He was born in 1995.

Do not use THE with uncountable nouns

EXAMPLES

Rice is an important food in Asia.
Milk is often added to tea in England.
War is destructive.

Do not use THE with the names of individual mountains, lakes and islands

EXAMPLES

Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in Alaska.

She lives near Lake Windermere.

Have you visited Long Island?

Do not use THE with most names of towns, streets, stations and airports

EXAMPLES

Victoria Station is in the centre of London.

Can you direct me to Bond Street?
She lives in Florence.
They're flying into Heathrow.

source:edufind.com
 
Open school said:
I have understand the uses of AN but the problem is about when should I use a and the in same sentence, sometimes I have use they by thinking are same thing and has apparent meaning.
For example ..
• I am a president of Tanzania.
• I am the president of Tanzania.
Click to expand...

I'm the president of Tanzania.

Here, we have only one specific person. HE is the ONLY president. We don't have two presidents.

He is a unique person and you can easily identify him.

Try to read other examples I gave you and let me know if you are still confused.
 
Tokyo40 said:
WHEN TO USE "THE"
GENERAL RULES

Use THE to refer to something which has already been mentioned.

EXAMPLES

On Monday, an unarmed man stole $1,000 from the bank.
THE THIEF hasn't been caught yet.

I was walking past Benny's Bakery when I decided to go into THE BAKERY to get some bread.

There's a position available in my team. THE JOB will involve some international travel.

Use THE when you assume there is just ONE THING in that place, even if it has not been mentioned before.

EXAMPLES

We went on a walk in the forest yesterday.

Where is THE bathroom?

Turn left and go to number 45. Our house is across from THE Italian restaurant.

My father enjoyed THE BOOK you gave him.

Use THE in sentences or clauses where you define or identify a particular person or object.

EXAMPLES

THE MAN who wrote this book is famous.

I scratched THE RED car parked outside.

I live in THE SMALL house with a blue door.

He is THE DOCtOR I came to see.

Use THE to refer to people or objects that are unique.

EXAMPLES

The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.

You can go anywhere in the world.

Clouds drifted across the sky.

The president will be speaking on TV tonight.

The CEO of Total is coming to our meeting.

Use THE before superlatives (the biggest, the most beautiful) and ordinal numbers (first, second).

EXAMPLES

This is the highest building in New York.

She read the last chapter of her new book first.

You are the tallest person in our class.

This is the third time I have called you today.

Use THE with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people.

EXAMPLES

The French enjoy cheese.

The elderly require special attention.

She has given a lot of money to the poor.

Use THE with decades.

EXAMPLES

He was born in the seventies.
This is a painting from the 1820's.

Use THE with clauses introduced by ONLY.

EXAMPLES

This is the only day we've had sunshine all week.

You are the only person he will listen to.

The only tea I like is black tea.

PROPER NOUNS

Use THE with names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, and oceans.

EXAMPLES

They are travelling in the Arctic.
Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
Hiking across the Rocky Mountains would be difficult.


Use THE with countries that have plural names.

EXAMPLES

I have never been to the Netherlands.
Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?


Use THE with countries that include the words "republic", "kingdom", or "states" in their names.

EXAMPLES

She is visiting the United States.
James is from the Republic of Ireland.

Use THE with newspaper names.

EXAMPLES

I read it in the Guardian.
She works for the New York Times.

Use THE with the names of famous buildings, works of art, museums, or monuments.

EXAMPLES

Have you been to the Vietnam Memorial?

We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa.

I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower.

I saw King Lear at the Globe.

Use THE with the names of hotels & restaurants, unless these are named after a person.

EXAMPLES

They are staying at the Hilton on 6th street.
We ate at the Golden Lion.


Use THE with the names of families, but NOT with the names of individuals.

EXAMPLES

We're having dinner with the Smiths tonight.

The Browns are going to the play (theatre not game) with us.

WHEN NOT TO USE "THE"
Do not use the with names of countries (except for the special cases above).

EXAMPLES

Germany is an important economic power.

He's just returned from Zimbabwe.

Do not use THE with the names of languages.

EXAMPLES

French is spoken in Tahiti.
English uses many words of Latin origin.
Indonesian is a relatively new language.

Do not use THE with the names of meals.

EXAMPLES

Lunch is my favorite meal.
I like to eat breakfast early.

Do not use THE with people's names.

EXAMPLES

John is coming over later.
Mary Carpenter is my boss.

Do not use THE with titles when combined with names.

EXAMPLES

Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth's son.

President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

Do not use THE after the 's possessive case

EXAMPLES

His brother's car was stolen.
Peter's house is over there.

Do not use THE with professions

EXAMPLES

Engineering is a well-paid career.
He'll probably study medicine.

Do not use THE with names of shops

EXAMPLES

I'll get the card at Smith's.
Can you go to Boots for me?

Do not use THE with years

EXAMPLES

1948 was a wonderful year.
He was born in 1995.

Do not use THE with uncountable nouns

EXAMPLES

Rice is an important food in Asia.
Milk is often added to tea in England.
War is destructive.

Do not use THE with the names of individual mountains, lakes and islands

EXAMPLES

Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in Alaska.

She lives near Lake Windermere.

Have you visited Long Island?

Do not use THE with most names of towns, streets, stations and airports

EXAMPLES

Victoria Station is in the centre of London.

Can you direct me to Bond Street?
She lives in Florence.
They're flying into Heathrow.

source:edufind.com
Click to expand...

Let me do a practice it and if there where which have not uderstood I ask you for more help.
 
A Unique or An Unique?

Just another note about the challenges of the English language.

Why "a unique..." rather than "an unique..."?

When a "u" word is pronounced as though it begins with a "y" (yoo nique), it's treated more like the consonant sound of the y.

So, a university, an umbrella, a usual day, an unusual day.
 
This thread was posted for the purpose of learning English but most of debate which is going on here it has based on important of knowing This language or not. let's us come back to the aim of Mama wawili. by discussing different topics. Thanks you all.
 
Tokyo40 said:
A Unique or An Unique?

Just another note about the challenges of the English language.

Why "a unique..." rather than "an unique..."?

When a "u" word is pronounced as though it begins with a "y" (yoo nique), it's treated more like the consonant sound of the y.

So, a university, an umbrella, a usual day, an unusual day.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the above material.
 
Tokyo40 said:
A Unique or An Unique?

Just another note about the challenges of the English language.

Why "a unique..." rather than "an unique..."?

When a "u" word is pronounced as though it begins with a "y" (yoo nique), it's treated more like the consonant sound of the y.

So, a university, an umbrella, a usual day, an unusual day.
Click to expand...

Vipi matumizi ya neno "had had"
 
Idd Ninga said:
ktk lugha ya kingereza kuna nyakati (tenses) kuu 3,ambazo ni :
1>PRESENT TENSE.
2>PAST TENSE.
3>FUTURE TENSE.
Kila tense mmoja imegawanyika mara nne.

PRESENT TENSE
1)simple present tense.
2)present continous tense.
3)present perfect tense.
4)present perfect continous tense.
PAST TENSE
1)simple past tense.
2)past continous tense.
3)past perfect tense.
4)past perfect contious tense.
FUTURE TENSE
1)simple future tense.
2)future continous tense.
3)future perfect tense.
4)future perfect continous tense.
Punde nitaleta maana fomula ya jinsi ya kutumia nyakati hizo.
Click to expand...

Mkuu ktk kienglish tuna aina mbili tu za tense! PRESENT AND PAST ONLY...! huwezi kuwa na wakati ujao the only thing we have is aspects of time in differents tenses;
Present continuous
Present perfect
Past perfect
Participle
Future
Future perfect
Nanyingine nyingi tu...!
 
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