Kampung Boy Learning English (KauBoLEh) (2)

Present Perfect Tense contd.

The form of the verb we use for Present Perfect Tense is called the Past Participle (the third form of the verb);

Base Form >> Past Form >> Past Participle

work >> worked >> worked
write >> wrote >> written

So the following are a couple more examples on the usage of Present Perfect Tense to conclude the previous section;


3) Used to talk about an action that occurred in the past, which still has importance to a present situation

Ex. 1: I have received Adam’s letter.

Ex. 2: She hasn't made her decision yet.


4) Negative statements and questions with Present Perfect

Negative statement: He hasn't found a job yet.

Question: Why hasn't he found a job yet?

Now that we have covered the Present Perfect, we can proceed to the Present Perfect Continuous, which is slightly different in structure.


Present Perfect Continous (The Intro)

1) Used to talk about an action that started in the past and continues to the present

Ex. 1: I have been working at the same job since 2009.

Ex. 2: The company has been hiring foreign workers for many years.


2) Used to show that an action is still happening

Ex: He has been working for the past eight hours.


The tricky part is, with some verbs, we can use either the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous with very little difference in meaning

Ex. He has been working as a custodian for the past few years. OR
He has worked as a custodian for the past few years.


We do not use a continuous tense with nonaction verbs (like verbs that show feelings). You can ask Mr. Google for a list of nonaction verbs so you'll get a better picture of this.

Ex. I have known her for almost 3 years. (Not: have been knowing)


Okay, let's not cram in too much at once. Taking it easy helps you digest the material better. So far it's been quite easy and straightforward I guess, so keep the remaining gigabytes of your brain for later. I came up with the acronym 'KauBoLEh' so I don't have to keep typing out the long title, and it's kinda cool too. Ingenious kan? ^^

Kampung Boy Learning English (1)

I was thinking of something to do; something educational that I enjoy doing, which I can also share with others. So I thought I would do a review on English grammar. Yep, I do like grammar! As much as I like having Nasi Lemak and Teh Tarik for breakfast back home. I figured that the best way of learning is teaching; as you practice what you know, you help your brain retain it better.

So, what topic should we do a review on? Let's see..okay, let's do a review on 'Types of Tenses'. One thing that distinguishes English grammar from Malay grammar is the critical use of tenses, as in past, present, and future tenses. Instead of just adding words that indicate a specific tense, in English, the verb itself has to be modified accordingly. A mistake in tenses can disrupt the intended meaning of a sentence.

Present Perfect Tense

eat >> have eaten
beat >> have beaten
fly >> have flown


1) Used for a repeated action to show how many times you have done the action (up to the present)

Ex: I have eaten three cups of megi.

Use 'since' or a 'since clause' to specify the time;

Ex. I have eaten three cups of megi since yesterday.

Note: Always use Simple Past for a 'since clause';

Ex. I have eaten three cups of megi since I arrived.

2) Used for a state/feeling that extends from a point in the past to the present

Ex. 1: I have liked her since I first saw her.

Ex. 2: I have been frustrated since I found out she's taken.

Note: For a repeated action that was definitely completed in the past (not connected to the present), simply use Simple Past, with an appropriate time phrase;

Ex. 1 I went to Teluk Intan three times last year.

Ex. 2 I saw her only a few times last winter.

Okay let's stop here for now. Next time, I'll pick up our review on Present Perfect Continuous Tense. I'm sorry if you find the above wording confusing, and I'd love to accept any comments, corrections, and constructive criticisms too since I myself am still learning. Questions are most welcomed. Until the next lesson, see ya. Assalamualaikum. ^^

I'm sorry

I'd like to apologize to you..

• whom I made promises to that I didn't keep.
• whom I've given hopes only to crush them later.
• whom I didn't stand up for when I should.
• whose expectations I have failed to meet.
• whose resources I have spent to waste.
• whose company I've taken for granted.
• whose feelings I have hurt.
• whom I've put in an awkward position due to my lack of control over my feelings.
• whose sincerity I have doubted.
• whose trust I did't fulfill.
• whose feelings I didn't return.
• whose cuteness I can't resist?

I'd like to apologize for..

• not making the best of the chances I had.
• having been slacking off and not studying hard enough.
• spending on things I don't need.
• letting my gaze wander off.
• getting in the way when I'm not supposed to.
• not voicing out the truth when I should.
• not calling home often enough.
• not being of much help around.
• not being much of a good muslim, servant, dai'e, leader, son, brother, friend, student, JPA scholar, housemate, lab partner, blogger..oh, MySA member! (if I'm still considered a member ^^")

So..are my apologies accepted?

hadiah

Petang tadi Br. Intikhab datang. Terkejut jugak tiba-tiba dia telefon cakap nak singgah rumah dari balik kerja. Kitorang kat rumah tengah tengok bola dengan khusyuknya di TV skrin besar. Apa lagi..kemas2 lah apa yang patut kan. Maklumlah rumah orang lelaki bujang, rumah dah la kecik duduk ramai2 pulak tu (alasan!). Tiba2 terngiang kata2 ibu tercinta ditelinga; "Kamu ni suka letak barang merata, dompet, henset semua nak kena cari..ni nanti dah kahwin takkan bini nak kena cari?" "Ala..nanti kitorang cari sama-sama lah.." Nak jawab macam tu, tapi kupendamkan..haha. Ibu dan nasihat-nasihat nya..rindu lah! Balik ni azam nak berkhidmat untuk ayah dan ibu..hehe.

Oh kat mana tadi? Jadi, perlawanan antara Real Madrid dan Bayern Munich terpaksa diberhentikan sebentar apabila loceng berbunyi. Dipendekkan cerita, Br. Intikhab datang sebab nak bagi kitorang jubah2 yang dia kirim dari Toronto sebagai hadiah. Minggu lepas Br. Syish pergi Toronto nak renew passport dia, jadi dia kirimlah beli jubah dekat sebuah kedai ni kat sana. Saya dapat kaler hijau, Mael dapat putih, Wae dapat hitam..siap ada matching kopiah lagi. Seronok nampaknya Br. Intikhab tu bila dapat bagi kitorang hadiah. Kitorang pun seronok la dapat hadiah kan. Lepas ni nak kena rajin2 pakai jubah la nampaknya. Ni kira hadiah perpisahan la kot sebab kitorang pun nak balik Malaysia dah insyaAllah dlm sebulan dua. Kitorang dah anggap dia macam keluarga sendiri kat sini. Dia pun dah anggap kitorang macam anak-anak dia dah. Dia tau kitorang ni duduk jauh dari keluarga, jadi macam2 lah dia buat kadang2 tu sebab nak hiburkan hati kitorang. Lagu Negaraku pun dia dah hafal dan selalu nyanyi kat kitorang. Tapi dia punya melody off sikitlah..haha. Hm..mesti dia sedih sebab kitorang nak balik ni. Dia memang dah bagitau siap2 dia akan nangis nanti..huhu. Takpe, insyaAllah boleh tetap berhubung melalui Skype kan. Br. Intikhab siap mintak nak tengok kitorang kawin live dekat Skype lagi..macam mana tu?

Hari Jumaat ni satu jema'ah Arab dari Lackawanna akan khuruj di Masjid Ar Rahman di Bay St. Rochester insyaAllah. Ingat lagi masjid yang asal nya church tu, tapi dah dibeli dan dijadikan masjid oleh komuniti Yaman kat situ. Kalau tengok masjid tu luar dalam sebijik macam church. Kuasa Allah kan. Allah boleh tukar semua church kat dunia ni jadi masjid kalau Dia berkehendak. Tapi Allah nak muliakan kita dengan bagi kita peluang untuk tunjukkan usaha kita dulu. Dan kemudian Allah sendiri yang kan beri ganjaran kepada orang-orang yang berusaha untuk menegakkan agama-Nya. Allah tak perlukan kita untuk buat apa-apa..sikit pun tidak. Semoga kita tergolong di kalangan orang2 yang dipilih Allah untuk membantu agama-Nya. Ameen. ^^,

P/s: Exam Advance Immune tadi macam tak boleh jawab. Sedihnya. Dah la Real Madrid kalah..huhu.

hamna

Just got back from Syracuse. Feeling rejuvenated after a little dose of afternoon nap just now. This time around Adem, a US-born Turkish, went with us to Syracuse. He just finished at University at Buffalo, and is applying to a medical school for his Master's. He should be back in college by next Fall. I'm very glad that two other Malaysians, Syafiq and Izani, were with us this time. Syafiq left with us from here to Syracuse on Friday, while Izani who is currently doing his co-op in Syracuse joined us when we got there. Alhamdulillah. We had a great time and a lot of fun I guess especially for the kids in our jama'ah.

That weekend was a busy and important weekend to the community. They had a barbeque the day after we came. I can say that everybody was present for the event and that we came on the right weekend after all. Imam was very welcoming, receptive, and supportive of us. One time when addressing all of us at the masjid, he mentioned that he was happy and impressed to see many youngsters in our jama'ah who are involved in da'wah. I think they've got a beautiful and strong community of Muslims there. The whole time the masjid was full with kids and they seemed to be very comfortable being in the masjid. The way they instill affection for the masjid in their kids is something we should follow everywhere else. Sadly, in many places, kids are somewhat restricted from the masjid, for the reason that they would cause distractions. Of course something needs to be done to cut down on the distractions, but restricting them from the masjid altogether is never a good idea to me. Believe me, if our your kids didn't get to love the masjid in their childhood, it's even tougher for them to love the masjid when they get older owing to the negative influences that lurk around in today's environment.

at lunchtime: some members of our jama'ah sitting with an American revert

During jaulah Br. Nasir, Br. Irfan, Adem and I visited a Turkish Cultural Center somewhere downtown of Syracuse city. It was the first time we went there. We found out about it from a brother at the masjid. Our coming was welcomed. Br. Nasir gave some da'wah to us all before we offered maghrib together with the local Turkish brothers. Adem was telling me the whole time how he would love to re-polish his unpolished Turkish, and right there and then he got the chance to speak Turkish. I could see the excitement on his face the whole time he was doing that. He said his Turkish was 7/10, but from what I heard he pretty much still had it in him. (Or it was just me not being able to distinguish between bad Turkish and good Turkish..haha).

Izany was not with us all the time. As for Syafiq, I believe he really enjoyed the time we spent over there, judging from his expressions. No one can describe that enjoyment we're getting in khuruj until they experience it themselves. I may describe what I feel from A to Z to a brother, but he won't grasp what I meant for him to know until he himself step into it; in da'wah, there's more to feel than to describe. And apparently Syafiq has got that first-hand experience for himself. He is a better brother than I am. I pray that Allah will accept his sacrifice and reveal the truth of this effort to him. He made an intention to come with us again next month insyaAllah. Unfortunately, next khuruj would very likely be my last khuruj here in the US..huhu. It's our weakness that we have not done much effort to leave behind a legacy of Malaysian students for this effort. May Allah forgive us.

the wrapper

Anyway, I didn't come back here empty-handed! Hehehe. Remember that "independent little lady" from "Souvenir from Syracuse"? I met her again this time. She barely recognized me, but that didn't stop her from being annoyed by me (in a sweet way..haha). She's grown up a lot since last time. I just love the way she carries herself around in the midst of the community members. You would find her to be quite an impressive talker. One time I was just sitting in  a corner when she came up to me bringing a chocolate. Her: "Do you like chocolate?" Me: "No..not really?" Her: "Do you want this chocolate?" Me: (shaking my head) Her: "Here, you take the wrapper." Me: (took the wrapper with a confused expression). Then she left. There sure was a lot of kids to pick on at the masjid, but she really stood out amongst them. Somewhat she reminds me a lot of my little brother future daughter..haha (okay, quit dreaming already!) Someone told me that I'm a big dreamer, and I'm afraid I can't totally deny that..hurrmm. And to top everything, I got her name this time; her name is HAMNA. =)

the wrapper giver 

P/s: I accidentally crushed the wrapper in my jubah's pocket. Err..would it be creepy for me to keep the wrapper? ^^"