Be Ruthless to Yourself

Hi, there! We often wonder, (question) why diets fail? Actually, it is not the diets that fail, but our determination that fails. We start with a big promise to ourselves, “No matter what, I shall stick to my diet and lose weight”. And then, one plait of steaming hot jalebis and the whole promise is gone… So, you see, it is not the diets that fail; it is our strength of mind that lets us down.

Learning of English is similar, people start with a big bang, make innumerable resolves (promises) and then one small thing, (like a wedding or a trip or a meeting) and the resolve is in smithereens (pieces). Hence, resolve is necessary, but with it two more things are of prime importance:

1. Being pitiless (very strict) to yourself
2. To be utmost (very) disciplined

Unless, the above two things accompany ‘resolve’, all will be lost at one little temptation… (attraction)

The other day, I watched the movie Airlift, the movie was good, but the most fascinating (interesting) part was watching Akshay Kumar. The man is so fit and so agile (active) even at his age. Doesn’t it prove that age has got nothing to do with fitness? It is merely (only) discipline and hard work that makes one an Akshay Kumar.

So, people when you make a promise to yourself to learn English, you have to first start with two more things-  be strict with yourself and be disciplined. Then whether you are self- learning or have joined some classes, the results will automatically show. So, do yourself a favor and finish what you start or else do not get into it.

Okay, I am done with sermonizing, (lecturing) let me take two queries for today:

• The first one comes from Aniket, he wants to know the difference between continuous tense and perfect continuous tense.

Aniket, continuous tense shows that the activity is happening or was happening or will be happening at that point of time and perfect continuous tense shows that the activity began before that point of time and was still continuous. Okay, do not get confused, let me show you with examples:

Present continuous tense:

• Deep is writing. (Which means that he is writing ‘now’.)

Present perfect continuous tense:

• Deep has been writing. (The ‘has been’ shows that he started writing in the past and is even writing ‘now’.)

Past continuous tense:

• Deep was writing. (In past Deep was writing at that ‘point of time’.)

Past perfect continuous tense:

• Deep had been writing. (Deep had started writing before that point of time and was still writing.)

Future continuous tense:

• Deep will be writing. (In future, Deep will be writing at that ‘point of time.)

Future perfect continuous:

• Deep will have been writing. (In future, Deep will have started writing before that ‘point of time’ and would still be writing at that ‘point of time’.)

Aniket, I am sure this has made it clear. Leet me take you as an example:

• Aniket is learning the continuous tense. (Right now)
• Aniket has been learning the continuous tense since 4. Pm (He started at 4. Pm and the activity is still continuous).

Does that make it clear? I am sure it does.

Moving on to the 2nd query.

Anita, wants to know the difference between ‘a query’ and ‘a question’.

Anita, a query is the act of seeking information or soliciting information from someone or something, whereas, a question refers to how a person phrases her query. So, you have sent a query to me to know the difference between a query and a question and your question is, ‘What is the difference between a query and a question?’

Key in your mails to me on: surabhi.pillai@yahoo.com

Keep smiling…