All About English Creative Writing

[tianzhu]

Hi TAS


Thank you for your reply.

I’d like to further clarify my doubts.

Is it correct to say

He had stayed in that cottage before 2011.

Best wishes

[The Alternative Story]

tianzhu:

Hi TAS


Thank you for your reply.

I’d like to further clarify my doubts.

Is it correct to say

He had stayed in that cottage before 2011.

Best wishes

Hi tianzhu,

It is correct as you are indicating that this action has
happened in the past. If you use the present
perfect tense here, it would seem to indicate
that he is still staying here and has only recently
vacated the place.

TAS

[tianzhu]

The Alternative Story:

It is correct as you are indicating that this action has
happened in the past. If you use the present
perfect tense here, it would seem to indicate
that he is still staying here and has only recently
vacated the place.

Hi TAS

Thank you for your reply.

Is it correct to say?

We have lived there till 2010.

Best wishes

[Herbie]

Hi TAS,


Can continue to provide S&T example/tips? eg both the correct and wrong version

Many thanks!

[The Alternative Story]

tianzhu:

Hi TAS

Thank you for your reply.

Is it correct to say?

We have lived there till 2010.

Best wishes

Hi tianzhu,

It is all right, for this case, as not enough
information is provided, we can use both
the present and past perfect tense.

TAS

[The Alternative Story]

Herbie:

Hi TAS,


Can continue to provide S&T example/tips? eg both the correct and wrong version

Many thanks!

Hi Herbie,

Yes we can and we will do so soon.

TAS

[Herbie]

Hi TAS,


Thanks very much!!!

[The Alternative Story]

Synthesis Tips: 'Had'


- 'Had' acts like 'if'.

- You would have 2 negative statements linked together or 2 positive
statements.

- The sentence structure would be like this:

Had she done her work, she would have been allowed to go out.

Take note that the verb after 'had' must be in the past
participle form and in the following part of the sentence, you
would need to use the verb structure- would + present perfect
tense (have been for eg.)'

Example:

QN: She fell down into the drain because she did not watch
where she was going.

ANS: Had she watched where she was going, she would not
have fallen down into the drain.

COMMON MISTAKES:

1) The child forgets to use the past participle

QN: Unless she does her work, she would not be allowed to
go out.

ANS: Had she does her work, she
would have been allowed to go out. (wrong)

2) The child does not have 2 negative or 2 positive statements linked
together

QN: Unless she does her work, she would not be allowed to
go out.

ANS: Had she done her work, she would
not be allowed to go out. (wrong)

TAS

[tianzhu]

Hi TAS


I wish to seek your help again.

This S and T question appears in P3/P4 English thread.

If you drink, don't drive!
_________ unless ______________

According to TS, the given answer is \"Don't drink unless you are not driving.\"

I find it difficult to understand. From past readings, I observed that unless is usually followed by a verb in the affirmative (positive).
Unless refers to an exception. It usually replaces 'if' + a negative verb.

Just curious, is this answer acceptable?

Drive unless you drink.

Please help to clarify.

Best wishes

[The Alternative Story]

tianzhu:

Hi TAS


I wish to seek your help again.

This S and T question appears in P3/P4 English thread.

If you drink, don't drive!
_________ unless ______________

According to TS, the given answer is \"Don't drink unless you are not driving.\"

I find it difficult to understand. From past readings, I observed that unless is usually followed by a verb in the affirmative (positive).
Unless refers to an exception. It usually replaces 'if' + a negative verb.

Just curious, is this answer acceptable?

Drive unless you drink.

Please help to clarify.

Best wishes

Hi tianzhu,

For 'unless', it does not need to be followed by a verb in the
affirmative but the sentence usually does not contain
2 negatives (don't) + (you are not).


Drive unless you drink should be correct because it fulfills
the rules concerning 'unless' where one part of the
sentence should be negative (drinking has a negative
connotation) and one part positive (drive)

However in this case, this is not accepted because Drive unless
you drink is in the form of a command.

And sentences with 'unless' usually are not in the form of a command.

We do not say:

Go out unless it rains.

We would say:

You can go out unless it rains

A better way to put it should then be:

You can drive unless you drink

The answer that was given: Don't drink unless you are not driving
is indeed confusing as there are double negatives(don't) and
(you are not) in the same sentence which makes it hard to
understand.

Hope this helps

TAS