English lessons - Can You Please Help Me

It seems to me that I will be a " habitual client " of here, from what I give to them thank you in advance.
And, yes, I believe that this thread is a good idea.

agree, say it as simple as ever possible in your own words and as you feel it to be correct. am pretty sure you will not be misunderstood.

and for the rare case you are misunderstood, this can still be sorted by discussion, or with the help of others

slow

universal wrote:@dazaman

You're right, but this thread is not made to bring to light the errors of a particular post, but just to try to make progress in English, for those who want it and do not always understand where they were wrong.

Often we write without knowing that the turn of the sentence may want to say anything other than what we think.
How many times I read: "Sorry for my english"?

Translators are far from perfect, I use them and correct some errors that seem obvious.
But I would like to arrive a day without it, so if my mistakes and those of others can help me progress with the help of those who speak the language ....

But I think it is out of the question to hunt for mistakes, and highlight the writers and their mistakes.

I concealed the name in the header of the thread, it was just an example, and not the conviction of a person.

Kind regard

Hi universal,

I am all in favour of this thread it is more i don't want it to end up being a thread for indirect insults to other members.

Also some will write answers even i don't understand and thats where it might get complicated, i want it to be a straight forward answer for all not just a select few, at the moment i can see it being a WIKI thread and telling someone who only speaks English he is wrong


If those are interested then great and to those that reply keep it simple....That is all i ask.

@dazaman

You're right, but this thread is not made to bring to light the errors of a particular post, but just to try to make progress in English, for those who want it and do not always understand where they were wrong.

Often we write without knowing that the turn of the sentence may want to say anything other than what we think.
How many times I read: "Sorry for my english"?

Translators are far from perfect, I use them and correct some errors that seem obvious.
But I would like to arrive a day without it, so if my mistakes and those of others can help me progress with the help of those who speak the language ....

But I think it is out of the question to hunt for mistakes, and highlight the writers and their mistakes.

I concealed the name in the header of the thread, it was just an example, and not the conviction of a person.

Kind regard

Yes English here on the forum is a big problem. I admit that my as seen also. However, I believe that it is better if someone writes with errors (just that we know and understand the context of expression) than that he did not write. Looking at A certain posts I guess that well over 50% of people use the wonders of technology, which is google translators, or other forms of assistance. So is better than never. Then the forum would be even more empty. And although some are trying to write something.
And yet is not about form but of contents.
Of course, please do not look at my errors!

dazaman wrote:I will be honest on my views of this thread.

To highlight mistakes is to kill some members enthusiasm to want to post.

...

i do like the idea of people wanting to know the differences but it as to be them who ask.

...

Highlighting The_Feelings post mistakes where not needed as everybody knew what he meant.


So please i want no copy and pasted posts from other parts of the forum in here, it is only for the persons themselves to ask for help.


Please prove me wrong on what i'm expecting

Daz!

It's the same reason for which I wrote that perfect English shouldn't be a problem here.
What's important?The overall meaning should be understandable.

My copy and past of The_Feelings' post had just the purpose to show that we all can make mistakes
(he spoke about her/his and he made a similar mistake (her/their).
It was just a joking way to say that real problems are of a different kind.
After all I'm allergic to the word "teacher" .

This is my humble opinion.

If you want you could rename the thread as "English lessons-I need help",
so that it's clear that it is only for the persons themselves to ask for help .

Hi there, I am German and I think I can explain the difference.

I think in English the difference between "must" and "have to" is that either I want something to do or another person wants me to do something.
e.g. I must pee... because I need to do... negotiation is "forbidden"...
I have to go at work... cos my boss want to see me there in time... I rather would sleep...

In German there is no difference. MUSS is always the same meaning...



"if" is a condition in relation with "then", which is in German "wenn" -> "dann"...
"when" is in German "als".

e.g. when I was born -> ALS ich geboren wurde -> it never will be said: WENN ich geboren wurde -> this is not a senseful sentence...

greeeez...

I will be honest on my views of this thread.

For me the person as to post in here for help, if anyone copies and pastes from another members post and starts saying what is wrong with it then that is patronising and childish.

Most write good enough English to read and others try through a translator and can be understood most of the time which gets my full respect as they are trying to join in.

Part of the reason i like this forum is due to mis-spellings or mistakes 1.it shows personality 2. it is what that member is really saying.

To highlight mistakes is to kill some members enthusiasm to want to post.

No person can do a perfect post me included i do like the idea of people wanting to know the differences but it as to be them who ask.


Highlighting The_Feelings post mistakes where not needed as everybody knew what he meant.


So please i want no copy and pasted posts from other parts of the forum in here, it is only for the persons themselves to ask for help.


Please prove me wrong on what i'm expecting

WILSONSAND wrote:My english is bad, i know, but it seems to be comprehensible. I try to do it the best i can. Anyway I am sure i write better english than the spanish that could be written from most of the members, so i am happy to know i can communicate in other language better as most of the people here would do in mine, although my language is the second most spoken language in the world after chinese.This is my confort. But if i have to be corrected, there is no problem for me.

Just think about this:
when I write some post I'm very fast.When I have a second fast reading I usually find 3/4 mistakes...
When I read my post carefully the day after, I usually find other 10 mistakes ...
If Beller reads my posts (edited with some corrections) he surely tells me that the trash bin would be the best place for them .

Don't worry!
This thread should be only for the worst mistakes or some questions .

My english is bad, i know, but it seems to be comprehensible. I try to do it the best i can. Anyway I am sure i write better english than the spanish that could be written from most of the members, so i am happy to know i can communicate in other language better as most of the people here would do in mine, although my language is the second most spoken language in the world after chinese.This is my confort. But if i have to be corrected, there is no problem for me.

dazaman wrote:

logic wrote:Nice idea, so let me start with the first question:

Google translator says (English -> German, only an example):

I must work = Ich muss arbeiten
I have to work = Ich muss arbeiten

So what's the difference between "must" and "have to". When I use what?

In English "i must" and "i have to" means the same.

pretty much agreed

While "have to" and "must" can be used interchangeably, there are differences in usage

Michael Swan in Practical English Usage (Oxford University Press, 1995) wrote:Both verbs can be used in British English to talk about obligation. (In American English, 'have to' is the normal form.) British English often makes a distinction as follows. 'Must' is used mostly to talk about the feelings and wishes of the speaker and hearer — for example, to give or ask for orders. 'Have (got) to' is used mostly to talk about obligations that come from "outside" — for example from laws, regulations, agreements and other people's orders.

dazaman wrote:

logic wrote:Second question:

When I use "if" or "when"? Google says both is the translation for the german "wenn".

I'm always confused. and

the second is the same again.

like: "i might call you if i have time" or "i might call you when i have time"

But with both they can be used in a sentence that means the same, so your translator is right but can also read it wrong and it reads different to how it is meant it all depends on what your trying to say.

@brudgon the correct translation would be "simple" in the sentence you used.


Btw there are much better English teachers than me on the forum

*cough*
If defines a condition that must be met, when defines a time.
I admit that the practical difference is pretty small.

logic wrote:Nice idea, so let me start with the first question:

Google translator says (English -> German, only an example):

I must work = Ich muss arbeiten
I have to work = Ich muss arbeiten

So what's the difference between "must" and "have to". When I use what?

In English "i must" and "i have to" means the same.

logic wrote:Second question:

When I use "if" or "when"? Google says both is the translation for the german "wenn".

I'm always confused. and

the second is the same again.

like: "i might call you if i have time" or "i might call you when i have time"

But with both they can be used in a sentence that means the same, so your translator is right but can also read it wrong and it reads different to how it is meant it all depends on what your trying to say.

@brudgon the correct translation would be "simple" in the sentence you used.


Btw there are much better English teachers than me on the forum

logic wrote:Nice idea, so let me start with the first question:

Google translator says (English -> German, only an example):

I must work = Ich muss arbeiten
I have to work = Ich muss arbeiten

So what's the difference between "must" and "have to". When I use what?

Second question:

When I use "if" or "when"? Google says both is the translation for the german "wenn".

I'm always confused. and

english language is very simply

Nice idea, so let me start with the first question:

Google translator says (English -> German, only an example):

I must work = Ich muss arbeiten
I have to work = Ich muss arbeiten

So what's the difference between "must" and "have to". When I use what?

Second question:

When I use "if" or "when"? Google says both is the translation for the german "wenn".

I'm always confused.

For example:

I know that Kate was really disappointed because Uwe wrote a fantastic message making a mistake:

[hidden link - please register]

in this case:

in (wrong) --- > on (ok)

If Uwe had written "on" Kate would have appreciated it much more .