English Grammar Tenses - Learning?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by Sad Person, Sep 6, 2011.

  1. #1
    Hi all
    I need some suggestion. When it comes to grammar tenses, my english language is very poor. I have my dictionary installed so its no problem about checking meaning of unknown English words to get them translated, through dictionary, in my primary language. Also when I have to write one or two sentences, I believe they aren't even so poor from aspect of appropriate English grammar (talking about the tenses). But when I try to write in correct English language larger text (with paragraphs), such as 700 words long text on page of website for SEO purposes, it ends up with many errors. I have checked amazon.com and also done the search through google, as well as youtube, but there are so many opportunities that I don't know what to choose. I would like to be focused just on grammar tenses because my ones really need some improvement urgently.
    I have been asking already on some other forums but never got any useful suggestion of source. People were just telling me to check books from primary school but there is nothing what can be used in this case for larger (from aspect of amount of words) texts, also I have been pointed to some sources that aren't helpful where I determinate in the study forms words (or group of words) such as:

    I .......... (read) the book yesterday.

    and then I was supposted to replace the dots with correct english grammar tense, using the ''read'' verb.

    Or something like.

    I .......... (watch) this for few years.

    Its obvious I need to put ''have been watching'' but this won't help me. Its too easy. I have tried a lot but, as I said, when I try to write larger text, there are countless of tenses errors.
    Could anyone please suggest what should I use? Would like to use one or maximum two sources to learn but quality ones. I also found many sources myself already but neither of them meet my exact needs at all.
     
    Sad Person, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  2. ronharper

    ronharper Peon

    Messages:
    164
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    Take a class or watch a lot of American pop culture (tv shows, movies, etc.). There's no substitute for actual experiences and immersion when it comes to learning grammar.
     
    ronharper, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  3. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    Of course this was the first idea I got but its definitely not helpful and won't work.
     
    Sad Person, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  4. Fastseo

    Fastseo Active Member

    Messages:
    151
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    71
    #4
    Google can also help, use Translate and Transliterate .
     
    Fastseo, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  5. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    Fastseo google translator can NEVER help you in appropriate English grammar tenses or not even in appropriate English in general. Too many bugs. Obviously I remembered google translator (or any software grammar checker) before I added this topic.
     
    Sad Person, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  6. contentboss

    contentboss Peon

    Messages:
    3,241
    Likes Received:
    54
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    There's a new grammar checker plugin for wordpress blogs coming out soon - it will automatically catch the kind of errors you're talking about.
     
    contentboss, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  7. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    contentboss; as stated above, softwares cannot indicate really all tenses mistakes in the text. There is no appropriate software like that. Tried few but terrible results.
     
    Sad Person, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  8. contentboss

    contentboss Peon

    Messages:
    3,241
    Likes Received:
    54
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    Yawn. Just because it's never been done before doesn't mean it can't be done.

    Obviously.

    I've seen the betas, and it blows all the grammarly/ginger/shitewoke stuff right out of the water.
     
    contentboss, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  9. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    And how much would I have to wait for this plugin? What if I won't use wordpress? Any alternative source already online or available offline that you would suggest?
     
    Sad Person, Sep 6, 2011 IP
  10. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    anyone can suggest a quality source?
     
    Sad Person, Sep 7, 2011 IP
  11. contentboss

    contentboss Peon

    Messages:
    3,241
    Likes Received:
    54
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #11
    they'll release it when it's ready.

    Obviously.

    If you don't use wordpress, you'll be able to access it through an online account.

    I'm not aware of anything currently available that does what you want.
     
    contentboss, Sep 7, 2011 IP
  12. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #12
    no books??
     
    Sad Person, Sep 7, 2011 IP
  13. contentboss

    contentboss Peon

    Messages:
    3,241
    Likes Received:
    54
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    the blue book of grammar?
     
    contentboss, Sep 8, 2011 IP
  14. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #14
    yes but the color doesn't matter at all. On amazon as well as on google books are so many which belongs to english learning but don't know which one would be the most appropriate in my case.
     
    Sad Person, Sep 8, 2011 IP
  15. YMC

    YMC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,787
    Likes Received:
    404
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    190
    #15
    I don't have any suggestions but be very suspicious of the reviews on Amazon for writing books. I purchased two last year, one was full of poor grammar (there's a thread around here someplace with one of the examples). I was so aggravated with the first one, I never opened the second. The one with the errors had 1 bad review and a number of people attacked that reviewer viciously - it made it quite obvious the reviews were fake.

    I admit that I would hate doing so but perhaps find an online homeschool or college-level English & Composition textbook and go through it. I was going to suggest the only grammar site I keep in my bookmarks. Ironically, it's from the author of the Blue Book of Grammar. It might be worth it to give that one a go. I like her explanation of commas - no jargon, just plain spoken explanations.

    It sounds like you are looking for a quick fix. There isn't one.

    CB, can't wait to see that tool you mentioned.
     
    YMC, Sep 8, 2011 IP
  16. contentboss

    contentboss Peon

    Messages:
    3,241
    Likes Received:
    54
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #16
    It's very cool, YMC. I'm hearing there might even be a 'free' version... dunno how they will fund it seeing as it does everything copyscape does AND grammar / seo checks - basically a PASS GOOGLE tool...
     
    contentboss, Sep 8, 2011 IP
  17. aniebee

    aniebee Peon

    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #17
    I use a program that is very helpful for learning proper English grammar. Now, is it perfect? Of course not, but I love it! It's called grammarly.com

    It does require a subscription, but you can try it for free for about 15 days. All the outsources I've worked with love it.

    Just an idea - and good for you for working so hard on improving your English - I'm impressed!
    Ann :)
     
    aniebee, Sep 8, 2011 IP
  18. contentboss

    contentboss Peon

    Messages:
    3,241
    Likes Received:
    54
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #18
    grammarly is expensive expensive. It also falls down on even basic complexity sentence conjunctions.
     
    contentboss, Sep 9, 2011 IP
  19. Sad Person

    Sad Person Peon

    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #19
    I think I haven't been understandable when asking my question. There are many subtopics of English grammar, I don't have time to improve all of them so I would like to be focused on the one, which is the most poor for me - the tenses. So this Blue Book of Grammar would probably not be helpful. I checked the content and subtopics like:

    than vs. then
    or vs. nor
    whos vs. whom
    that vs. which
    good vs. well
    pronunciations (for this I already use Natural Reader software and I recommend it to everyone whos English language isn't native language)
    commas, dashes and so on
    hyphens
    capitalization
    writting and pronunciating of numbers
    etc

    All those subtopics don't really belong to pure tenses. I was asking about tenses and not entire English grammar.
     
    Sad Person, Sep 9, 2011 IP
  20. aniebee

    aniebee Peon

    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #20
    What? No it's not! Seriously? You think it's "expensive expensive?" $20/month on or even cheaper if you purchase a longer membership.
    I guess it depends on what you consider "expensive expensive." And I find it quite helpful. This person is looking for ideas, why shoot down everything, but
    your solution?
     
    aniebee, Sep 9, 2011 IP