Prof Mohanram's voice

Suma: Are you having my pen? Rama: I’m not so hungry that I would eat it Suma: Well, I meant to ask if you have my pen Rama: Oh yes, certainly. Here it is..  Wondering why Rama ridiculed Suma? “ Have ” is a word that is better used in simple present tense while denoting possession. Ex. “I have a house”, “I have a car”, “I have job,” etc whereas, it doesn’t really make sense to say “I am having a house” or “I am having a car” and “I am having a job" The best place where it makes more sense is when you are literally having (eating) For ex. I have a cake - I have a cake in my possession  I’m having a cake - I am eating a cake Is eating the only sense for having? No, there are other uses such as Singular event, but happening for a certain duration (continuous) They’re having an argument ==> one particular argument They always have arguments ==> repeated event Here it is not appropriate to say They are always having arguments As par...

Having snacks at a friend’s place Friend: “Have this, no!” Me: “Ok, I’ll not have this, I’ll have that.. ” Friend: “No no, just have this one also, no” Confused Me: “Should I have this or not?” Friend: “Oh come on, no” Me: “Why do you keep adding “NO” every time?” Friend: “Oh, it’s common, no” This is what happens when you think in one language and translate in another while speaking. Sometimes it is obvious, but sometimes it isn’t. Like this one: Person1: “It is correct, no?” Person2: “Yes, no?” Persion3: “No, no?” Me: “I don’t get it, yes or no”? All: “Yes only, no?” If you didn’t decode it already, here is a guide: Person1: “It is correct, no?” ==> “It is correct, isn’t it?” Person2: “Yes, no?”  ==> “Right, it is correct” Persion3: “No, no?” ==> “No, that is not correct” Me: “I don’t get it, yes or no”? All: “Yes only, no?” ==> “Yes, that’s right"   And then there are some confused souls using “know” in place of “no”?   “You are coming, know...

Soma: “Did Bama tell if she is coming? No, isn’t it?”   Prof: "Using question tags is not just a fashionable way of putting things across, but is also an essential part of conversation.  Isn’t it?” Soma: Yeah, that’s right” Prof: "But are we using it correctly every time?” Soma: “Why not? We can just use 'Isn't it', isn't it?” Prof: “Let’s keep things simple.” “When you want to use tags, just remember 2 simple rules” #1) Make a simple positive sentence and then add a negative tag at the end  or Make a simple negative sentence and then add a positive tag #2)  Keep them both (main statement and tag) in the same tense and use the correct noun for the subject (doer) Ex. Positive sentence with Negative tag You are coming to the movie, aren’t you?          Bhima can join us for the movie, can't he?          Whatever was shown in the movie is right, isn't it? Ex.Negative sentence with Positive t...

Heard a big laughter upstairs and my friend comes running laughing and says “I can’t take this anymore, I literally rolled on the steps laughing” “Literally?” “Yes, literally” “You mean figuratively?” “Means?” “If you had literally rolled on the steps, we would now be carrying you to the hospital. What you meant is ‘figuratively’ Moreover, when you say ‘literally’ you mean ‘actually’ or ’in fact’, ‘in literal terms’ which means ‘exactly’” Getting an overdose of the lingo he says “Ah ok, whatever, just chill buddy!”  and then adds   “Why do you always take things literally?” :) Previous Topic:  Canning the ability Next Topic:  No, Isn't it? All Posts:  Prof Mohanram's Voice

“I can able to finish it” “Can you able to tell me how?” “He can able to drive this” How often have you heard this and felt something isn’t right? If you haven’t, try telling this in the correct way “I can finish it” “Can you tell me how?” “He can drive this” It’s a simple language, why complicate it? Want to know more? “Able” is an adjective, not a verb, similar to “strong” or “capable”, which means, you can not use it next to "Can" like "Can do" or "Can go". To put in context, check the below example: “This box is heavy. Can you ' able'  to move this?”   is similar to saying “This box is heavy. Can you ' strong'  to move this?” Hope you get the point. Either you say “Will you be able to move this?” or “ Are you able to move this?” Or just simply say “Can you move this?” Message conveyed. Simple. Right? Previous Topic:  All but one! Next Topic:  Oh Really? All Posts:  Prof Mohanram's Voice