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Thanks. It's actually difficult to write proper English when you mostly learn it through TV shows .
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I learnt English was I was student almost 30 years ago ( I know, I'm quite old )
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Thanks. It's actually difficult to write proper English when you mostly learn it through TV shows .
which is a very efficient way to learn ...
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Thanks. It's actually difficult to write proper English when you mostly learn it through TV shows .
This is a very late reply but you write English very well, so there's no need to worry. In fact, everyone who posts in the 'Red and Black Corner' usually writes pretty well, so well done everyone!
I know how it is. When I arrived in France, I could barely speak a word. I learnt from watching TV and listening to people talk. It's a good way to learn how to speak and understand a language, but it's harder when it comes to writing it. I have quite a big vocabulary now and can have proper conversations with people, but I always have to double (or triple) check my spelling and conjugations before I post anything on the forum in French.
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Can you tell me more about the differences between it/that/this you reffered to in a previous post ? I've been learning english for more than 10 years now and I've never understood the rule. Thanks a lot !
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I've been asked to explain this before and it's not easy but I'll do my best.
On the basic level:
This = Used for something that is nearby or happening right now.
That = Used for something that is far away or happened in the past/future.
It = Used in lots of different ways.
The problem is, when you actually get to using these words, there are SO many complications that come up because the things you're talking about don't always seem to fall into these categories. I think the biggest problem for French speakers is when you're having conversations and don't know which word to pick in each case.
Here are my tips:
Use "that" when you're talking about something that:
1) has already been mentioned
2) is in the past/is far away
Example:
A: I love laughing at Rennes fans on their forum.
B: Is THAT really how you want to spend your time?
We use 'that' because the object (laughing at fans) has already been mentioned. We're referring to something that is already involved in the conversation. And this subject isn't close by or happening right now.
Now let's look at a similar example to see the nuance.
A: Rennes fans suck!
B: Is THIS really how you want to spend your time?
Here we use 'this' because the object hasn't been mentioned. A is just making a statement and B is introducing something new (the idea of wasting your time by posting stuff like that). And this time, the subject is close by/happening right now, so 'this' is the word we use.
Let's go back to 'that'.
Other examples:
A: Remember when we beat Nantes 4-1?
B: That was a great game. (happened in the past)
A: I'm eating at McDo tonight.
B: That's my favourite fast food place! (subject is far away)
A: My cat just killed a bird.
B: That's horrible. (in the past/far away)
I hope I'm getting the idea across. 'That' is often the right word to use when you're making a comment about something that is already being talked about, but isn't right in front of you or happened in the past/future.
Now let's look at the difference with some 'it' examples.
We use 'it' when the thing we're talking about:
1) has been mentioned
2) is close by/happening right now
A: The weather is nice today.
B: Yeah, it's great!
A: Ligue 1 is going to be interesting this year.
B: PSG are probably going to win it.
A: What do you think about global warming?
B: It's a big problem.
A: Look at this cake I made.
B: It looks tasty!
As you can see, the things being talked about here are not far away. They're happening at the moment or are right in front of the people, so B uses 'it' each time.
Here's another example to see the difference:
A + B are sitting together watching a movie, talking to someone else about what they're doing.
A: We're watching The Matrix.
B: It's my favourite film.
B uses 'it' because the subject is right in front of them and has already been mentioned. It's not far away, so 'that' doesn't work.
Similar situation:
A is watching a film and talking to B on Skype.
A: I'm watching The Matrix.
B: That film sucks.
Here, B uses 'that' because he's referring to an object that A has introduced and, for B, the object is far away because he wasn't watching it.
Now we move onto 'this', which you should be using:
1) to introduce something new into the coversation
2) it needs to be close by/happening in the present
Examples:
This film is good. This team is terrible. This burger is tasty. This girl's name is Mary.
We can go back to Grig's example here:
"Is it really how you want to spend your holidays..?"
Before that, BreizhCanari had made a post joking about Rennes.
So here, Grig is introducing a new idea (the act of wasting time in the holidays), and the subject is right there on the page (not far away), so we use 'this'.
So it should read "Is this really how you want to spend your holidays..?"
Final example:
A + B go to the cinema.
During the film:
A: What do you think of this movie?
B: It's not bad.
(the subject has been introduced, is close by/happening right now)
During the film:
A: This is really interesting!
(the subject had not been introduced, is close by/happening right now)
After the film:
A: What did you think?
B: That was really boring!
(the subject has been introduced, is in the past)
So, to sum up:
1. Use 'that' for things that are far away in terms of distance and time. Use this word when talking about things that are already introduced in the conversation.
2. Use 'this' to introduce new ideas into the conversation, and only for things that are close by or happening right now.
3. Use 'it' for things that have been introduced into the conversation but are not far away. In general, if you don't think 'this' or 'that' sound right, 'it' is probably the best word to choose. It's the most multi-functional word of the three and has a lot of uses.
But, sadly, these 'rules' are more like 'guidelines' because there are always exceptions and the whole thing is a bit dumb. Hopefully this makes it a little bit clearer, maybe. Sorry, it's not easy to explain.
I can try and help further if you have any other questions or want more details.
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Michael, you deserve to be given a big hand for the time and effort. Pretty clear indeed !
À chaque époque, il est des gens qui ne pensent pas comme tout le monde, c’est à dire qui ne pensent pas comme ceux qui ne pensent pas.
-Marguerite Yourcenar -
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(...) but I always have to double (or triple) check my spelling and conjugations before I post anything on the forum in French.
Believe me, you are not the only one... but I am French...
Hopla!
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I like the examples! They make it all perfectly clear!
La meilleure attaque, c'est la défense! (proverbe français)
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Believe me, you are not the only one... but I am French...
Haha, it's not an easy language!
Thanks guys, glad to have helped.
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Thank you Michael
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Hello
For Michael or others English speakers
do you say :
I hope Celtic Glasgow will win against Paris SG or I hope that Celtic Glasgow is going to win against Paris SG ?
Which sentence is the most correct ?
thanks for your help
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Celtic Glasgow will win against Paris SG!
It's easier like this and it would be so great!!
Hopla!
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"I hope that Celtic will win against PSG" is the best.
Bonus tip: British people just call them "Celtic", rather than "Celtic Glasgow".
It would be amazing if Celtic won! I'm looking forward to that game.
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That's a perfect question, thanks Breizh!
Michael, can we apply that for everything or is it specific to "hope"?
Because I use to say "that" for example after "I saw that you were there..." or "I believe that..." "I think that..." " he told me that..."but when paying attention to what people say, they don't always say "that" (even very rarely)
Is it a US/UK thing or people just don't mind the correct grammar?
I am still a bit confused about that stuff
We have been considered many things: A city in decay, a city in distress and without hope.
However we have never given up and we never say die. We are born fighters, we rise from the ashes. We are a community that believes in our future despite whatever anyone throws against us.
WE ARE DETROIT!
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It is a good question and that's an interesting point too, SSL.
Well, there's nothing grammatically wrong with saying "that" in all those cases. All of your examples are fine. It's good English and, personally, I tend to use "that" in most of those situations, but I think, at least when people talk, it's becoming more and more common for people to skip the "that". It's still good grammar to say "I hope..." or "I believe..." without the "that".
It's kind of like in French how people say, for example, "Je vais pas..." and leave out the "ne" all the time. It's just a faster way of talking, and I think you've probably seen it more because it seems like Americans do that sort of stuff more often.
So yeah: "I hope Celtic will win against PSG" or "I hope that Celtic will win against PSG" - Both are fine.
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Merci Michael Very clear now
You've made my day!
I hope that Celtic will destroy PSG
We have been considered many things: A city in decay, a city in distress and without hope.
However we have never given up and we never say die. We are born fighters, we rise from the ashes. We are a community that believes in our future despite whatever anyone throws against us.
WE ARE DETROIT!
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Glad to help! I do have my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate and have done a bit of teaching since I arrived in France, so if anyone has any questions anytime, I'm always happy to lend a hand.
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Can you tell me if my sentence " I hope that Celtic is going to win against Päris Sg" is correct or not ?
And if this sentence is not correct , can you explain me why ?
Thanks for your help
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I'm always happy to lend a hand.
And can we do whatever we want with it?
Dernière édition de: Stringer Stanfield Little (07-09-2017 17:46:43)
We have been considered many things: A city in decay, a city in distress and without hope.
However we have never given up and we never say die. We are born fighters, we rise from the ashes. We are a community that believes in our future despite whatever anyone throws against us.
WE ARE DETROIT!
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@SSL : Lol
@Breizhcanari : "I hope that Celtic is going to win against PSG" is an okay sentence, but it just doesn't sound as natural as "I hope that Celtic will win against PSG".
It's hard to explain, but it's just better and more natural to use "will" in cases like this, so if you want to be really accurate and sound like a native, use "will", but otherwise your sentence is still fine.
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Hey Michael!
Sorry to disturb in this topic but i can't send you a private message.
Are you still interested to play MyLittleNuts (MonPetitGazon) as you said in august ? Someone deserted in our league (league one) and we will be happy to welcome you.
Please come play with us and use this link to join our league : https://www.monpetitgazon.com/dashboard … u6YgjL4piZ
Rennes, je t'aime !!!
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Hey
Yeah I'm still interested. I've clicked on the link and joined up. Thanks!
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Yeah I saw that (this? It? Sorry I haven't read all your explanation ).
We're waiting for a last guy and I will start the mercato.
We can speak in the MPG Premier League topic, it will be more appropriated.
PS : sorry for my pour english
Rennes, je t'aime !!!
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Thank youi Michael
Is it just the difference beetween the way natives speak English and the way people learn English .
Example I will leave ( je vais partir) and I'm about to leave or I'm going to leave
Do you make any differences between those examples ?
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