Please help me to read this English sentence:

[MissMisa]

Originally Posted by YuriTokoro

Hi, MissMisa.

>'I thought that 'lucky guess' meant something good happening, like he/she had expected.'

Can you say ‘I thought that “lucky guess” meant something good he/she had expected happening’?


>'I think that 'lucky guess' means something good happening, like he/she had expected.'

This is very difficult.
Don’t you say ‘I think that “lucky guess” means something good happening, like he/she have expected’?

Thank you for helping me, MissMisa.

Hi ^_^

You can't say:

‘I thought that “lucky guess” meant something good he/she had expected happening’?

Because 'happening' is in the present tense. And thought is in the past tense.

You were very close to getting it right, so don't give up hope!

You could say it like this:

'I thought that "lucky guess" meant something good he/she expected to happen.'

So now, both words at the end are in the past tense, so it's right.

And this sentance:

‘I think that “lucky guess” means something good happening, like he/she have expected’?

Is wrong, because if someone had done something, then it would be in the past tense.

So, since someone has already expected something to happen, it is in the past.

The correct sentance would be:

'I think that "lucky guess" means something good happening, like he/she expected.'

So 'think' is that you are thinking something right at that moment, and 'expected' is something that has already happened.

It is very difficult to understand, but you will get there!

You are welcome for the help ^_^

[chryuop]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

Hi ^_^

You can't say:

‘I thought that “lucky guess” meant something good he/she had expected happening’?

Because 'happening' is in the present tense. And thought is in the past tense.

You were very close to getting it right, so don't give up hope!

You could say it like this:

'I thought that "lucky guess" meant something good he/she expected to happen.'

So now, both words at the end are in the past tense, so it's right.

And this sentance:

‘I think that “lucky guess” means something good happening, like he/she have expected’?

Is wrong, because if someone had done something, then it would be in the past tense.

So, since someone has already expected something to happen, it is in the past.

The correct sentance would be:

'I think that "lucky guess" means something good happening, like he/she expected.'

So 'think' is that you are thinking something right at that moment, and 'expected' is something that has already happened.

It is very difficult to understand, but you will get there!

You are welcome for the help ^_^

Why is expected to happen past tense and expected happening is present? I am not of an English speaking country so I am interested into this too.

I think here people is just confusing this poor girl. I have seen examples of how you should respect the time line which are correct, but can be wrong. Just because I write "I wrote a letter" doesn't mean I have to write "I was satisfied". The 2 phrases "I wrote a letter and I was satisfied" or "I wrote a letter and I am satisfied" can be both be correct. Respecting the time line must be seen in the whole context and not only in one phrase. Telling someone who is learning English, you started with past you can't use present is wrong. Not to mention the present perfect which can work in the past, present or joining the 2.

[MissMisa]

Originally Posted by chryuop

Why is expected to happen past tense and expected happening is present? I am not of an English speaking country so I am interested into this too.

I think here people is just confusing this poor girl. I have seen examples of how you should respect the time line which are correct, but can be wrong. Just because I write "I wrote a letter" doesn't mean I have to write "I was satisfied". The 2 phrases "I wrote a letter and I was satisfied" or "I wrote a letter and I am satisfied" can be both be correct. Respecting the time line must be seen in the whole context and not only in one phrase. Telling someone who is learning English, you started with past you can't use present is wrong. Not to mention the present perfect which can work in the past, present or joining the 2.

The word 'expected' is past tense, the word 'happening' is present tense, when used by themselves, that's how it is.

The English is a very complicated language. Rules are not straightforward, and there are always exceptions to every rule. Therefore, I can't just say to her, 'Using the past tense here is always wrong.' Because it's not, and I didn't say that. I can only help her with specific questions, because generally rules do not always go across the board in English.

Those two sentances can both be correct, depending on what you want to say. Saying 'I wrote a letter and I was satisfied.' Means, you were once satisfied but it's possible you are no longer satisfied, or you are just not indicating you are satisfied anymore. Saying, 'I wrote a letter and I am satisfied.' Means you are still satisfied to the present moment about writing the letter.

[Bureda]

Nobody is confusing anyone. Yuri is a keen learner and therefore identifies words she's not used to. Treating her like any other English speaker is more effective than talking to her in a primary school manner.

Expected is past and Expect is present. You must keep the sentence balanced in relation to time. If you're describing something that's occurring you are to use a present term throughout the whole sentence.

Present:
"I am well behaved, just like my friend expects me to be"

Past:
"According to my friend I am expected to behave well"

Think of the present tense and something like water, its not a definite and everything you do will effect the outcome.

Think of the past as a stone tablet, something that has already happened, a fact.

If you say 'You wrote a letter' then it means that you have already written a letter.

If you say 'I am writing a letter' then it means you're in the process of writing a letter.

So, no, if you say 'you wrote a letter' and haven't done so then the sentence is wrong.

The correct term would be "I am currently writing a letter, it is not finished yet".

English is a sentence based language, you must learn to structure sentences.

[Bureda]

Definition of luck:
Luck is a chance happening, or that which happens beyond a person's control. Luck can be good or bad.

When luck is good/positive we say 'Lucky'

When luck is bad/negative we say 'Unlucky'

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

Hi ^_^

You can't say:

‘I thought that “lucky guess” meant something good he/she had expected happening’?

Because 'happening' is in the present tense. And thought is in the past tense.

You were very close to getting it right, so don't give up hope!

You could say it like this:

'I thought that "lucky guess" meant something good he/she expected to happen.'

So now, both words at the end are in the past tense, so it's right.

And this sentance:

‘I think that “lucky guess” means something good happening, like he/she have expected’?

Is wrong, because if someone had done something, then it would be in the past tense.

So, since someone has already expected something to happen, it is in the past.

The correct sentance would be:

'I think that "lucky guess" means something good happening, like he/she expected.'

So 'think' is that you are thinking something right at that moment, and 'expected' is something that has already happened.

It is very difficult to understand, but you will get there!

You are welcome for the help ^_^

Hi, MissMisa.

>You could say it like this:
'I thought that "lucky guess" meant something good he/she expected to happen.'

I see. Now I understand I need to get used to using ‘verb+ing’ and ‘verb to verb’.

How about this?:
‘I thought that “lucky guess” meant something good he/she had expected to happen.’


>The correct sentance would be:
'I think that "lucky guess" means something good happening, like he/she expected.'
It is very difficult to understand, but you will get there!

Yes, it’s very difficult to understand.
Often we don’t mind about the tense. Besides Japanese doesn’t have perfect forms.
I will try to understand about tense but it seems to take time.
You have made me know it. あなたのおかげで気がつきました。
Thank you very much.

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by chryuop

Why is expected to happen past tense and expected happening is present? I am not of an English speaking country so I am interested into this too.

I think here people is just confusing this poor girl. I have seen examples of how you should respect the time line which are correct, but can be wrong. Just because I write "I wrote a letter" doesn't mean I have to write "I was satisfied". The 2 phrases "I wrote a letter and I was satisfied" or "I wrote a letter and I am satisfied" can be both be correct. Respecting the time line must be seen in the whole context and not only in one phrase. Telling someone who is learning English, you started with past you can't use present is wrong. Not to mention the present perfect which can work in the past, present or joining the 2.

Hi, chryuop.

>Why is expected to happen past tense and expected happening is present? I am not of an English speaking country so I am interested into this too.

I’m relieved to hear that. (Is this expression suitable for here?)
Thank you for worrying me!

[Bureda]

Originally Posted by YuriTokoro

Hi, chryuop.

>Why is expected to happen past tense and expected happening is present? I am not of an English speaking country so I am interested into this too.

I’m relieved to hear that. (Is this expression suitable for here?)
Thank you for worrying me!

Yes, that reply is correct if someone is worried for you.

>Why is expected to happen past tense and expected happening is present? I am not of an English speaking country so I am interested into this too.

No, what has happened is past tense and what's happening is currently happening, the present tense.

What is about to happen is future tense.

[Echo]

Yes, that reply is correct if someone is worried for you.

The one thing is that it should say 'thank you for worrying for me.'

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by Echo

The one thing is that it should say 'thank you for worrying for me.'

Thank you for worrying for me. I see.
Thank you for helping for me!