Interesting...

[chileno]

I found this link http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses.htm and this is what it had in it: (I asked for permission to quote it)

"Many English learners worry too much about tense. If you stopped 100 native English speakers in the street and asked them about tense, one of them might give you an intelligent answer - if you were lucky. The other 99 would know little about terms like "past perfect" or "present continuous". And they would know nothing about aspect, voice or mood. But they can all speak fluent English and communicate effectively. Of course, for ESL it helps to know about tenses, but don't become obsessed with them. Be like those native speakers! Speak naturally!"

And, more or less, this is what I have been preaching about...

Although I do not agree with the part that says "...for ESL it helps to know about tenses..."

Because it is applicable to any language.

Laepelba?

[Fazor]

Well, there's a problem with that line of reasoning. Most Americans (English speaking) probably cannot name the tenses, moods, etc. That part is true.

But that doesn't mean most speakers don't use them correctly. For instance, a native speaker wouldn't say "We will went to the store tomorrow and I am going to bought a new video game."

A person might not know to call it the "future tense" but they'd know to say "will go" and "going to buy".

But when learning a new language, you must learn what those tenses are called, or you'll never know what ones to use in what situations. I mean, if you just want to be understood, sure you can always just conjugate the infinitive; but you're not going to sound all that intelligent.

Just my two cents.

[poli]

I can honestly say that when I studied English grammar in grade school, I did well just to pass the tests. As soon as the test was taken, I pretty
much forgot what I had learned.

I only started to truly pay attention to grammar when I had to learn another language. Paradoxically, I believe it has improved my English language skills. I think it was Noam Chompsky who said that language
skills are as innate in humans as flying is for birds. I believe he is right. We all have the language "grid" in our heads, but when we're grown up, a
second language comes less naturally, and it's helpful to understand parts of speech as we take the second-language endeover.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Fazor

Well, there's a problem with that line of reasoning. Most Americans (English speaking) probably cannot name the tenses, moods, etc. That part is true.

But that doesn't mean most speakers don't use them correctly. For instance, a native speaker wouldn't say "We will went to the store tomorrow and I am going to bought a new video game."

A person might not know to call it the "future tense" but they'd know to say "will go" and "going to buy".

That is exactly what the quote states.

Originally Posted by Fazor

But when learning a new language, you must learn what those tenses are called, or you'll never know what ones to use in what situations. I mean, if you just want to be understood, sure you can always just conjugate the infinitive; but you're not going to sound all that intelligent.

That is exactly what the quote is saying not to do.

Of course you cannot expect to speak another language without errors, just from the get go.

Originally Posted by poli

I can honestly say that when I studied English grammar in grade school, I did well just to pass the tests. As soon as the test was taken, I pretty much forgot what I had learned.

Same thing happens in Spanish, and I guess in any language, to most people.

Originally Posted by poli

I only started to truly pay attention to grammar when I had to learn another language. Paradoxically, I believe it has improved my English language skills. I think it was Noam Chompsky who said that language skills are as innate in humans as flying is for birds. I believe he is right. We all have the language "grid" in our heads, but when we're grown up, a second language comes less naturally, and it's helpful to understand parts of speech as we take the second-language endeover.

hmmm new words uh?

It happenned to me also, and I bet to most people who endeavor with learning a new language. However, that happened to me only at the beginning and then I realized that I already knew how to read, write and express myself in Spanish, so I focused myself in "getting" the language, instead of grammar. And, it certainly helped me in "acquiring" and improving my English but also my Spanish got a boost. :-)

Beside a new way to view things and the opportunity to learn more of the American idiosyncrasy.

Thanks to that, I can laugh at most of the jokes... not all of them though...

[Fazor]

Ah, I took the "Don't worry so much about tenses, speak naturally" part like they were saying to not spend so much time with tense, and just "speak naturally".

Which I found confusing, because naturally, you use the correct tenses.

[CrOtALiTo]

Thank you Chileno, The website that you gave us is very interesting, I didn't know anything about the Future Perfect Continuous Tense and
Future Perfect Tense.

But always I will have been doubting in my sentences, I don't think so.

I wanna share some orations or examples with you and I hope you can help me if am in a wrong.

I will have been singing today in my restaurant.

Tendria que haber estado cantando hoy en mi restaurant.


My sister will has arrived in the bus today, but I believe that the bus will has setback during the morning.

Mi hermana tendria que llegar en el autobus hoy, pero creo que el autobus tendria retraso durante la mañana.


I'm in wrong please you correcting me and you give me examples in both languages.

I appreciate much your help.

[Rusty]

The future perfect continuous tense:
I will have been ____ing
= habré estado ____ando/iendo

I will have been studying all night when you come home.
Habré estado estudiando toda la noche cuando llegues a casa.

The perfect tenses use the helping (auxiliary) verb have, which is haber in Spanish (not tener).

The future perfect tense:
I will have past participle
= habré visto, comido, estudiado, etc.

I will have eaten when the sun sets.
Habré comido cuando se pone el sol.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Fazor

Ah, I took the "Don't worry so much about tenses, speak naturally" part like they were saying to not spend so much time with tense, and just "speak naturally".

Which I found confusing, because naturally, you use the correct tenses.

Even if one does not know proper grammar.

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Thank you Chileno, The website that you gave us is very interesting, I didn't know anything about the Future Perfect Continuous Tense and
Future Perfect Tense.

Me neither. And I still don't...

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

I wanna share some orations or examples with you and I hope you can help me if am in a wrong.

I will have been singing today in my restaurant.
Habré estado cantando hoy en mi restaurant.
Tendria que haber estado cantando hoy en mi restaurant.

I'm in wrong please you correcting me and you give me examples in both languages.

I appreciate much your help.

Rusty took care of that already. :-) Except the one I put there in red so you can compatre with what Rusty wrote.

Originally Posted by Rusty

The future perfect continuous tense:
I will have been ____ing
= habré estado ____ando/iendo

I will have been studying all night when you come home.
Habré estado estudiando toda la noche cuando llegues a casa.

The perfect tenses use the helping (auxiliary) verb have, which is haber in Spanish (not tener).

The future perfect tense:
I will have past participle
= habré visto, comido, estudiado, etc.

I will have eaten when the sun sets.
Habré comido cuando se ponga el sol.

Just one small correction.

[Rusty]

I knew se ponga needed to go in that sentence, but failed to write it. I did it correctly in the other sentence.

[CrOtALiTo]

I got it, I didn't know it.