Q&A - P5 English

[jetsetter]

When Obama said that, Mandela was critically ill, i.e. not dead yet, u know...

"Continues" would signal tt he was definitively gone n left us then? Language of diplomacy shdnt be flippantly crafted by press sec.

Hmmmm...

[D3@n]

When Obama said that, Mandela was critically ill, i.e. not dead yet, u know...

"Continues" would signal tt he was definitively gone n left us then? Language of diplomacy shdnt be flippantly crafted by press sec.

Hmmmm...

Obama used the future tense, so "Mandela's legacy will continue" is still grammatically sound and a better choice then "will linger".
It is just socially inappropriate/politcally insensitive to give attention to the legacy rather than the recovery (despite the critical condition).

As for this possible faux pas, don't be surprised, just as not all Chinese are proficient in their mother tongue; the same goes for Americans/British when it comes to their native English.

[jetsetter]

When Obama said that, Mandela was critically ill, i.e. not dead yet, u know...

"Continues" would signal tt he was definitively gone n left us then? Language of diplomacy shdnt be flippantly crafted by press sec.

Hmmmm...

Obama used the future tense, so "Mandela's legacy will continue" is still grammatically sound and a better choice then "will linger".
It is just socially inappropriate/politcally insensitive to give attention to the legacy rather than the recovery (despite the critical condition).

I believe Obama's press sec chose the word "linger" carefully, if you study the context at that time. Many historians, political watchers and biographers opined that Mandela should not be deified. I recall reading Winnie Mandela's criticisms of her ex-hubby (and his policies) a few years ago...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/world ... wanted=all

Mandela was one revered figure not without his critics...His legacy will saunter through the ages...but it won't stay on continuously...

As for this possible faux pas, don't be surprised, just as not all Chinese are proficient in their mother tongue; the same goes for Americans/British when it comes to their native English.

Just an aside...Some faux pas are not faux! Like this one by Argentinian prez Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on Xi Jinping's visit a day ago


She mocked Chinese speakers' pronunciation of the “r” sound for an “l” in the Spanish words for “rice” and “petroleum".

Of "lice" and "petloleum"...


Enuff said!!

[Green-apple]

Thai young man with the dogs ( ) to the neighborhood park now

is going
are going
has gone
have gone

[D3@n]

Thai young man with the dogs ( ) to the neighborhood park now

is going
are going
has gone
have gone

Do you mean The young man?
Singular "man" and "now" = singular "is" and continuous "ing"
So the answer is "is going"
the verb "is" controlled by "man" and not "dogs"
Hope this helps.

[ELFan]

I'm confused by this S&T question:

Question: Honduras is an exotic country. My friend, Johaness lived there for ten years

Honduras, where (fixed position) my friend, Johaness (lived / had lived) for ten years, is an exotic country.

Should the verb 'lived' be changed into a past perfect or is it okay to leave it as it is since it is not a conversion from direct to indirect speech.

Thank you!

[D3@n]

I'm confused by this S&T question:

Question: Honduras is an exotic country. My friend, Johaness lived there for ten years

Honduras, where (fixed position) my friend, Johaness (lived / had lived) for ten years, is an exotic country.

Should the verb 'lived' be changed into a past perfect or is it okay to leave it as it is since it is not a conversion from direct to indirect speech.

Thank you!

Rule of thumb is not to change the tense when there is no transformation involved.
Hope this helps.

[vaun]

The following question is from P5 Exam paper in 2014:

The young man saw the dog ( ) across the road when the traffic lights turned green.

(1) Dash (2) Dashes (3) dashed (4) was dashing
** The answer is (1), and we don't understand. Could anyone confirm if the answer shall be (3) ?

Thanks.

[D3@n]

Answer (1) is correct.

In a Verb-Noun-Verb construction, the second Verb is in the present tense.
I watched [the child take the medicine].
Mary saw [John cry].
The kind boy helped [the old lady carry her bag].

Hope this helps.

[vaun]

Thanks D3@n. Do you know what is the topic/title/section in Grammer that mention Verb-Noun-Verb, 2nd verb is in present tense ? I have bought a few books from Popular, but could not find a topic on this.