Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense refers to an action or state that either occurred at an indefinite time in the past (e.g., we have talked before) or began in the past and continued to the present time (e.g., he has grown impatient over the last hour). This tense is formed by have/has + the past participle.

The construction of this verb tense is straightforward. The first element is have or has, depending on the subject the verb is conjugated with. The second element is the past participle of the verb, which is usually formed by adding -ed or -d to the verb’s root (e.g., walked, cleaned, typed, perambulated, jumped, laughed, sautéed) although English does have quite a few verbs that have irregular past participles (e.g., done, said, gone, known, won, thought, felt, eaten).

These examples show how the present perfect can describe something that occurred or was the state of things at an unspecified time in the past.

I have walked on this path before.

We have eaten the lasagna here.

The important thing to remember about the present perfect is that you can’t use it when you are being specific about when it happened.

I have put away all the laundry.

I have put away all the laundry this morning.

You can use the present perfect to talk about the duration of something that started in the past is still happening.

She has had the chickenpox since Tuesday.

How to Write Better Cover Letters

Imagine, for a minute, that you’re an employer. You need to fill a position and you receive hundreds of applications every day. You’ve deleted the ones from senders like cutie143@email.com, the ones with misspellings in the subject line or email body, and the ones that sound like generic templates.

Then you read a cover letter that shows knowledge of the position, skill fit, proper grammar and spelling, and enthusiasm. Finally, you’ve found a potential candidate. So what’s in that cover letter? Writing better cover letters requires time, research, a mindset switch, and deliberate word choice. Read on to write your way to a new job.

Research the company and the position

If you’ve found a company you’re serious about working for or a position that seems like the right fit, don’t apply immediately. Do more research. Read through the website and press releases. What do Glassdoor and LinkedIn have to say? Check out their Hoover’s profile. Find similar positions in other companies and compare descriptions.

If you still want to apply after researching, then you can write about how your skills match the position and how you would fit in with the company’s culture. If the position calls for leadership skills, briefly mention a situation in which you led a team to success. Give evidence. Write about which of the company’s programs you admire. Use specifics to demonstrate your investment in the application.

Get into an employer-first mindset

The employer will be thinking, “What’s in it for us?” Catch the employer’s attention by answering that question for them. Can you increase profits, retain talent, produce creative work, or boost productivity? How does your skill set fit with what they need? Sell yourself by explaining how you’ll benefit the company.

Enlist the power of verbals to add energy

Research shows that you need to come across as energetic and enthusiastic about the job to retain a reader’s interest. Use verbals, verb forms that act as nouns, adverbs, or adjectives, to give your sentences energy. Compare these two paragraphs:

Passage A

There are four main steps in the composition of a cover letter. First, you must collect your thoughts about the position and the company. You should gather evidence of your experience and the skills that will be described in the letter. The next step involves the development of those thoughts by the use of examples from your previous work experience. Next, you should organize these thoughts into three paragraphs: the reason you’re writing goes in the first paragraph; what qualifications pertain to the position and what benefits these qualities provide to the company goes in the second paragraph; and a sales close goes in the final paragraph. The last step is the determination of whether or not you have made any grammar or spelling errors.

Passage B

Composing a cover letter involves four main steps. Collecting your thoughts about the position and the company is the first step. You should gather evidence of your experience and the skills that you plan to describe in the letter. Developing these thoughts by using examples from your previous work experience is the next step. The third step involves organizing these thoughts into three paragraphs. Use the first paragraph to explain why you’re writing; use the second to describe what qualifications pertain to the position and what benefits these qualities provide to the company in the second paragraph; and follow up with a sales close in the final paragraph. The last step is to determine if you have made any grammar or spelling errors.

The verbals in passage B are marked with bold text. In a study comparing readers’ preference for passages similar to those above, over 75 percent of respondents chose passage B and described it as “more to the point,” “more organized,” and “clearer,” which supports the hypothesis that readers prefer more syntactically complex verbals over passages not as syntactically complex.

Edit, proofread, then do it again

You may be a perfect fit for the position, but grammar and spelling mistakes will prevent you from being invited for an interview. Take the time to review your email introduction, cover letter, and résumé for mistakes. Review it slowly, read it aloud, and use Grammarly to make sure it’s 100 percent error-free before sending.

Craft a cover letter that an employer wants to read by making it specific and engaging. That way, you can apply for fewer jobs and receive more invitations to interview.

3 Punctuation Mistakes That Can Make You Look Like A Cannibal

1. Eat your dinner. vs Eat. You’re dinner.

Normal: Eat your dinner. Cannibalistic: Eat. You’re dinner.

That apostrophe (‘) is important! There are often a lot of hilarious (sometimes scary) sentences that come about when people confuse “your” and “you’re.” To avoid looking like a creep, it’s best to remember that your is the possessive form of you. It functions just like my does in relation to me. If you get confused by that, you can memorize you’re as the contraction (short form) of “you are.” Your = the possessive form of you You’re = the short form of you are.

2. Let’s eat, Grandma. vs. Let’s eat Grandma. Normal: Let’s eat, Grandma. Cannibalistic: Let’s eat Grandma.

The comma here is critical. The comma tells the reader that Granny isn’t the object of the verb “eat.” That is, with the comma, Granny isn’t on the main course tonight. The function of the comma here is to show that the sentence “let’s eat” is directed to an audience, Grandma.

3. I love cooking, my dogs, and my family. vs. I love cooking my dogs and my family. Normal: I love cooking, my dogs, and my family. Cannibalistic: I love cooking my dogs and my family.

Similar to number two, the commas here keep the nouns “dogs” and “family” from becoming unintentional objects of the verb “cooking.” In general, use commas to break up the items in lists.

Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense, also known as the past progressive tense, refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past. The past continuous tense is formed by combining the past tense of to be (i.e., was/were) with the verb’s present participle (-ing word).

There are many situations in which this verb tense might be used in a sentence. For example, it is often used to describe conditions that existed in the past.

The sun was shining every day that summer.

As I spoke, the children were laughing at my cleverness.

It can also be used to describe something that was happening continuously in the past when another action interrupted it.

The audience was applauding until he fell off the stage.

I was making dinner when she arrived.

The past continuous can shed light on what was happening at a precise time in the past.

At 6 o’clock, I was eating dinner.

.

It can also refer to a habitual action in the past.

She was talking constantly in class in those days.

One final caution: Though the irregularities are few, not every verb is suited to describing a continuous action. Certain verbs can’t be used in the past continuous tense. One common example is the verb to arrive.

At noon, he was arriving.

At noon, he arrived.

The Basics of Clauses in English

Clauses are groups of words that contain a subject and a verb. Why should you care about them? Have you ever told someone you loved them? Or written a letter to a friend? Likely, you did it with the help of clauses. You would find your ability to communicate severely limited if you had to express your thoughts without these serviceable units of speech. Why, even asking why you should care about clauses would be impossible! Let’s take a moment to appreciate the most important types of clauses and what they do for us.

Independent clauses

As its name indicates, an independent clause can stand on its own as a sentence. It has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. An independent clause by itself is called a simple sentence.

I like ginger snaps. I do not like dark chocolate.

Dependent clauses

Although a dependent clause also has a subject and a verb, a dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It’s only part of a sentence; it doesn’t express a complete thought.

When I grow up Because she is afraid of the dark

These sentence fragments can’t function without an independent clause. The independent clause can come before or after the dependent clause. However, if a dependent clause comes first, it must be followed by a comma. When an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses appear together, the sentence is complex.

I want to be President when I grow up. When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter. Because she is afraid of the dark, she sleeps with a night light. She never walks alone after sunset because she is afraid of the dark.

Did you notice the words at the beginning of the dependent clauses in the examples? These words (when and because) are subordinating conjunctions. They are dependent markers, words that might help you to identify dependent clauses. If a dependent clause starts with a subordinating conjunction, it is an adverb clause. Adverb clauses (also called adverbial or subordinate clauses) provide information about the when, where, why, and how of the independent clause. Let’s revisit one of our examples:

Because she is afraid of the dark, she sleeps with a night light.

Because indicates that an explanation will follow. This adverb clause will answer a question: Why does she sleep with a night light?

Dependent clauses can also begin with relative pronouns and relative adverbs, such as who, whoever, whom, whomever, that, which, when, where, and whose. If the relative clause begins with one of these words and functions as an adjective, it is an adjective clause. Adjective clauses, also known as adjectival or relative clauses modify nouns or pronouns.

that Sally brought to the party whose wallet I found

Of course, you need the rest of the sentence to understand what they are modifying. Adjective clauses describe the nouns that precede them. Often, they answer the question “Which one?”

The cupcake that Sally brought to the party was delicious. (The adjective clause tells you which cupcake is being discussed.)

The man whose wallet I found gave me a generous reward. (The adjective clause identifies which man gave the reward.)

As you can probably guess, noun clauses are relative clauses that act like nouns. They can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.

Whoever invented the can opener is a genius. (This noun phrase is functioning as the subject of the clause.) I just remembered that I need to buy butter. (This noun phrase is the direct object.)

I am ready for whatever the future brings. (This noun phrase is the object of a preposition.)

Does the starting word of the second noun phrase look familiar? That, along with how, who, which, when, where, and why can begin noun and adjective phrases. The best way to tell the difference is to ask if the phrase is modifying a preceding noun.

I just remembered that I need to buy butter. (“That I need to buy butter” is not describing the pronoun “I.” Therefore, it is a noun phrase.)

The one item that I forgot to buy is butter. (“That I forgot to buy” is describing “item.” It is an adjective clause.)

Clauses are just groups of words, but you need them if you want to communicate effectively. Can you imagine trying to talk or write without using sentences? How boring would books be if there were no adverb, adjective, or noun clauses? The next time you write something or chat with a friend, remember that clauses make it possible.

6 Ways to Celebrate National Teacher Day

May 5 is National Teacher Day. In advance of the holiday, it’s important to remember that you wouldn’t be where you are today without the teachers who influenced you throughout your life. Whether your favorite educators are from elementary school, high school, or college, make sure to tell them what a positive effect they’ve had on your life. Here are six ways to celebrate National Teacher Day.

Write a Thoughtful Letter

Sometimes heartfelt words are the best gift a teacher can receive. Think about how significantly your favorite teacher has impacted your life and take a minute to write down exactly how much she or he has done for you. Whether a great elementary science teacher influenced you to become the biologist you are today or a tough high school literature teacher challenged you to become the writer you are now, let that teacher know. Include the kids in this project and help them write a short but sweet note to their current favorite teacher.

Help With Classroom Chores

When time is short, teachers can’t always do everything they want to for their classrooms. Many teachers could use a helping hand with projects, large and small. Talk with your favorite former teacher or one that the kids love and find out how you can help. Be prepared to pitch in with photocopying educational materials, hanging art projects, or taking on lunchtime duty. For many teachers, having a little extra time each week or month is the greatest gift.

Provide Lunch

Teachers work long hours, and they don’t always have time to throw together a nutritious lunch in the morning. On National Teacher Day, tell your kids’ teachers that lunch is on you. Make lunch for a favorite teacher or partner with other parents at your kids’ school to put together a lavish lunchtime spread. If each parent volunteers for one course, your gourmet meal will come together in a flash. Choose healthy foods to keep your teachers nourished throughout the day, and don’t forget something sweet to finish the meal.

Volunteer in the Classroom

Many schools have programs that allow parents to volunteer their time in the classroom. Whether you have an hour or a whole week to give each month, volunteering your time can significantly impact how much a teacher can accomplish in the classroom. Depending on the teacher’s needs, you may be able to help coordinate an educational field trip, prepare activities in the classroom, or even organize seasonal events.

Whatever you do, know that donating your time makes the day much smoother, more efficient, and much more fun for teachers and their students. Check with a teacher or the school’s administrative staff to find out more about the school’s volunteer program.

Read About Great Teachers

There are plenty of excellent books about truly great teachers for every grade level. Choose an appropriate one to read with the kids and help them pick out the qualities that make a teacher truly great. Encourage them to think about which of their teachers have these qualities, and be sure to celebrate them on National Teacher Day.

Tell the Newspaper

Teaching can feel like a thankless job, so there’s no better way to celebrate National Teacher Day than to shout from the rooftops just how great your favorite teacher is. If you can’t quite do that, tell your local newspaper instead. Contact the newsroom about establishing a thank you section in the paper and encourage others in your community to write a note about an educator who has made a difference in their lives.

However you choose to celebrate, remember to give the educators who taught you the basics of punctuation, homophones, and everything in between a day of recognition. Donate your time, your cooking prowess, or your thoughtful words, and celebrate your teachers and their impact on your life. How will you celebrate National Teacher Day?

The Nobel Prize, Modern Shakespeare, and Tweeting Your Way to Better Writing

This week, Svetlana Alexievich broke new ground in the literary world by becoming the first journalist to win the Nobel Prize for her nonfiction writing. In other news, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has commissioned a rewrite of Shakespeare’s plays and the Internet can be both a friend and foe when it comes to your writing. Check out the full stories below:

Our Favorite Stories:

1. 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature Winner Svetlana Alexievich’s Life and Writing, Explained (Vox)
2. Shakespeare in Modern English? (The New York Times)
3. How Twitter’s 140-Character Limit Made Me a Better Writer (Life Hacker)
4. Internet Distraction: The Writer’s Main Dilemma (The Huffington Post)

Staff Book Picks of the Week:

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (A Song of Ice and Fire) (Fiction) George R. R. Martin

“Taking place nearly a century before the events of A Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compiles the first three official prequel novellas to George R. R. Martin’s ongoing masterwork, A Song of Ice and Fire. These never-before-collected adventures recount an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living consciousness.”

 

A House of My Own: Stories from My Life (Nonfiction) Sandra Cisneros

“From the author of The House on Mango Street, a richly illustrated compilation of true stories and nonfiction pieces that, taken together, form a jigsaw autobiography—an intimate album of a beloved literary legend.”

Author & Illustrator Birthdays

Donald Sobol — October 4, 1924

Anne Rice — October 4, 1941

Louise Fitzhugh — October 5, 1928

R.L. Stein — October 8, 1943