The word “finished”

Many students have trouble to use the word “finished” correctly.

The confusion arises because finished operates both as an adjective and as the past tense and past participle of the verb to finish.

When you use it as in 'We're finished for today', then you are using it as an adjective.

On the other hand if you are using it as in 'We've finished work for today', then you are using it as the past participle of the verb to finish.

When you use it as an adjective, you can talk about things being finished as well as people being finished with something.

For example, if you say “My marriage is finished” then this means that your marriage was a disaster from the beginning and now you are happy that it's over.

If you are working on your home you may tell your friends that you won't be finished for at least another hour and a half.

If you use it as a verb however you may say, “I finished my homework two hours ago.”

As an adjective finish means:

1. ended or completed.

2. completed or perfected in all details, as a product: to pack and ship finished items.

3. polished to the highest degree of excellence: a dazzling and finished piece of writing.

4. highly skilled or accomplished: a finished violinist.

5. condemned, doomed, or in the process of extinction: The aristocracy was finished after the revolution.

6. (of livestock) fattened and ready for market.

As a verb finish means:

1. To arrive at or attain the end of: finish a race.

2. To bring to an end; terminate: finished cleaning the room.

3. To consume all of; use up: finish a pie.

4. To bring to a desired or required state: finish a painting. (meaning complete)

5. To give (wood, for example) a desired or particular surface texture.

6. To destroy; kill: finished the injured horse with a bullet.

7. To bring about the ruin of: The stock market crash finished many speculators.

8. To come to an end; stop.

9. To reach the end of a task, course, or relationship.

to meeting vs. to meet

Here is a familiar problem.

I was asked to help with the phrases:

"I'm looking forward to meeting you. vs. I'm looking forward to meet you".

Correct is: I'm looking forward to meeting you.

Why?
The verb is in this sentence is 'to look forward to' which also means 'to anticipate'. These are transitive verbs which require a direct object.

In the example “I'm looking forward to meeting you” the direct object is a gerund. A gerund is a noun form of the verb 'to meet’.

In contrast in the sentence “I'm waiting to meet you” ‘to meet’ is the infinitive.

There are some verbs that are followed by a gerund and some that are followed by an infinitive. And then there are some that are followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.

You simply have to memorize these verbs.

Verb Tenses

Grammar

Verb Tenses:

Present Simple (Simple Present): basic verb (infinitive) ( go-went-gone) eg: I go home every day.

Present Progressive (Present Continuous): Simple Present of 'to be' + -ING (he is going) eg: he is still sleeping, be quiet!

Past Simple (Simple Past): regular verbs + ed, irregular 2^nd form (pushed, go–went-gone) eg: He pushed me into the water. Last night, he went home right away.

Past Progressive (Past Continuous): Past Simple of TO BE + ING eg: He was eating dinner when I called him last night.

Present Perfect: 'HAVE' + Past Participle (go–went-gone) eg: I have gone home.

Past Perfect: 'HAD' + Past Participle (take-took-taken) eg: I had taken a holiday.

Future: will + basic verb (infinitive) or ‘to be’ + going to + basic verb (infinitive) eg: He will go home soon. Or He is going to go home soon.

Auxiliary Verbs:

DO', 'BE' and 'HAVE' are the English auxiliary verbs used in a negative structure, a question or to show tense.

eg: I haven’t eaten yet!

Are you happy?

'DO', 'DON'T', 'DOES' and 'DOESN'T' are used for questions and negatives in the Present Simple Tense,

and 'DID' and 'DIDN'T' are used in the Past Simple Tense.

eg: Do you speak English?

BE' is used with basic verb (infinitive) in Continuous (Progressive) Verbs. It is also used with the Past Participle in the Passive

eg: He is going home. Rice is grown in Taiwan.

'HAVE' is used with the Past Participle to form the Present Perfect or HAD with the Past Participle to form the Past Perfect.

eg: He had gone to school before his mother got home.

Gerund: A Gerund is a verb when it acts as a noun. Basic verb (infinitive) + ING

Remember: If a verb ends with -e, it loses the last letter -e before adding the –ing.

eg: Swimming is fun!

Infinitive: The infinitive usually occurs with 'To' (for example To go)

eg: I had to go!

Modal Verbs: Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility, intention, obligation and necessity: CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD, SHALL, SHOULD, OUGHT TO, DARE and NEED.

eg: I would tell you the story, if I had more time..

You should study harder!

Virtual Barber Shop

Are you looking for an easy and fun way to improve your English?
Just listen to the Virtual Barber Shop.
To get the most out of it use headphones, close your eyes.
Have fun!

Parents and Teenagers

Most parents are very involved in their child's schooling.

Nonetheless, as their children become teenagers, these teenagers are becoming more independent and are increasingly involved in activities outside the family. During this time however parents should and must remain the most influential person in the life of their teenager.

Through the involvement of parents in school and extracurricular activities, parents can do much to help their teenagers believe in the value and importance of education. Be enthusiastic about learning and achieving academic success.

What you as parents can do to stay in touch with your teenager:

1. Show interest in your teenager’s studies, by taking the time on a daily base to talk about what has been learned and done in school (don't take "nothing" for an answer!).
2. Discuss ideas and feelings about school, studies, and activities. Let your teenager vent their frustrations. Be supportive.
3. Talking over any concerns or problems builds trust between you and your teenager. (restrain yourself from anger)
   
4. Consistently acknowledge and reward efforts at school.
5. When your teenager works hard, your acknowledgment motivates them to persist.
6. If you get your teenager's trust, your teenager will never disappoint you.
7. Give your teenagers responsibilities so they learn and develop self-esteem.
   

Treasure their trust!

What do these words mean 3.

Ancient - is an adjective and is pronounced [ áynshənt ]
It is some things that is very old.
Chinese: 古

Costume - is a noun and is pronounced [ kóstoom ]
It is a special cloth worn on a special even such as by an actor or a storyteller .
Chinese:服飾

Professional - is an adjective and is pronounced [ prō féshən'l, prō féshnəl, prə féshən'l ]
It is someone with a high degree of skills who works for money .
Chinese:專業

Laughter - is a noun and is pronounced [ láftər ]
It is the sound or an act of laughing.
Chinese:笑聲

Event - is a noun and is pronounced [ i vént ]
It is a happening such as the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Chinese: 近義詞
Energy - is a noun and is pronounced [ énnərjee ]
It is the ability or power to work or act.
Chinese:能源

Audience - is a noun and is pronounced [ áwdee ənss ]
It is the viewer of a movie or the listener to a radio program.
Chinese:觀眾

Intently - is an adverb and is pronounced [ in téntli ]
It is the focused a viewer who on of a movie he or she is watching.
Chinese:副 一心一意地;專心地

Comic - is an adjective and is pronounced [ kómmik ]
It is something funny such as a comic book.
Chinese:漫畫

Entertain - is an verb and is pronounced [ èntər táyn ]
It is to hold the interest of an audience by providing amusing or interesting material.
Chinese:動 使娛樂;使高興;招待

Student seriously injured in failed suicide attempt

The The China Post reported today in its Friday, March 28, 2008 issue about a 12th grader, an 18-year-old teenage boy, surname Lee, was seriously injured yesterday after he suddenly jumped over the fence outside his classroom located on the fifth floor at the affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, following a brief argument with his mother.

Earlier that morning, Lee's mother visited him to inquire about the proceedings for his application to medical school; the boy and his mother then engaged in a verbal argument outside the classroom, while students were still in class.

Fortunately, the boy did not life-threatening injuries but was so seriously hurt that he has to stay in intensive care for another 48 hours at the Ren Ai Municipal Hospital.

Nonetheless, parents should ask themselves, if they have a trusting relationship with their children. Over the years I have noted a drastic change in the behaviors of parents. Eight years ago many parents were still strict ( often too strict) and their children knew what their rules were and what role they had to play. Today however many parents are committed to a more lenient and even free way of raising their children and teenagers. Consequently, many children and teenagers feel lost in their world.

It would be therefore a good idea to reevaluate the standards and rules in each family. Children need rules to feel save and secured. That does not mean they have to be torture. Instead, rules should be laid out and explained by their parents very early in life. If children understand the need for rule they are more likely to follow them. Moreover, parents have to be consistent. It is not a good habit to change the rules or punish their children impulsively. Yes, reasonable punishment is needed, so children learn that braking the rules has consequences.

However, most important is a trusting relationship between parents and their children. An open minded discussion is often needed. Parents should listen to the concerns and agreements of their children. Explain to your children why you think they should do what you tell them. Simply saying, "I am your father or mother and you do what I tell you," does not solve the problem. The opposite is true. Yes, Children will obey but not because they want to or understand the need to do it but because you as parents have the power. That again, this leaves the door open for actions such as suicide attempt. It is often the only way, especially teenagers, to show that they have some control over their own life.

Consequently, I believe giving your children the feeling that they are in charge of their own life would help to avoid such conflict. At the some time guiding them to learn to make the right decisions for their life, will foster the trust between parents and their children.