Simple Past tense

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Formula:
S + V (d/ed) or irregular verbs

however if interrogative sentence, you can't change the verb, the verb is still ib V1 form.

e.g.
* I saw a movie yesterday.
* I didn't see a play yesterday.
* Last year, I traveled to Japan.
* Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
* Did you have dinner last night?
* She washed her car.
* He didn't wash his car.

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Active and passive verb forms

Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have active forms and passive forms. You must learn to recognize the difference to successfully speak English.

ACTIVE FORM

In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active.

[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]
e.g.
Mrs. Henny teaches the students
Mrs. Henny is thing doing action
Teaches is verb
the students is thing receiving action

PASSIVE FORM

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.

[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb/v3] + [by] + [thing doing action]

e.g.
the students are taught by Mrs. Henny

the students is thing receiving action
are is be
taught is v3 of teach
Mrs. Henny is thing doing action

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Simple Present tense

most of students where english is foreign language have difficulties in tenses, including simple present tense. So, here i will explain simply about simple present tense.

What is simple present tense?
Simple Present is used to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

the formula :

S + V1 (+ s/-es)
S + does not/ do not + V1

verb added s if the subject are first person or third person, e.g: I, they,we.
added by -es if the subject is second person, e.g: he, she, it.

However there are some verbs that can not added by s/es, so you have to look dictionary to check whether the verbs can be added by s/-es or not.

does not is used if the subject: he, she, it or singular noun.
do not is used if the subject: I, they, we or plural
eg:
* I play tennis.
* She does not play tennis.
* Does he play tennis?
* The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
* The train does not leave at 9 AM.
* When does the train usually leave?
* She always forgets her purse.
* He never forgets his wallet.
* Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
* Does the Sun circle the Earth?

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Earthquake...

Today.... approximately 15.00 WIB, there was an earthquake in Indonesia. I was in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. I can feel the great shaking of the world.... almost make me shocking... My friends were cry and run out (whereas they were cooking), others only sad n wanna cried... and I only keep silent cause I'm so confused. I felt it but I was unaware that it was an earthquake....
According to the news in TV, I know that the earthquake came from the deep sea that located west-side of Tasikmalaya, west-java. The magnitude was 7,2. wow.... almost make a tsunami. but thanks God it was not happen. Perhaps tsunami only happen in the country who always make another country crowded.
It means that God still love Indonesia and let make it as an evaluation.... for the political figure in Indonesia.... God have been show you a little of disaster that can make you die everywhere and every time...so don't do corruption and conspiracy.

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Example of Discussion text

Giving Children Homework; Pro and Con

There are a lot of discussion as to whether children should be given homework or not. Is it enough for children having time to study at school or needing additional time in home for study after school time?

Some people claim that children do enough work in school already. They also argue that children have their hobbies which they want to do after school, such as sport or music. A further point they make is that a lot of homeworks are pointless and does not help the children learn at all.

However, there are also strong arguments against this point of view. Parents and teachers argue that it is important to find out whether children can work on their own without the support from the teacher. They say that the evening is a good time for children to sit down and think about what they have learned in school.

Furthermore they claim that the school day is too short to get anything done. It makes sense to send home tasks like independent reading or further writing task which do not need the teacher support.

I think, on balance, that some homework is good idea but that should only given at the weekend when children have more time.

Taken from http://understandingtext.blogspot.com/2009/05/reading-discussion-text.html

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Indonesia's society

Do you know Indonesia? Have you ever heard about Indonesia?

Indonesia is beautiful and big country. unfortunately, there are many serious problems happen in this country. Because it has many natural wealth, so since hundreds years ago many other countries want to possess Indonesia.

The population of Indonesia approximately 240.3 million people make it the world's fourth-most populous nation. you can imagine how crowded the country. The island of Java is the most populous island in the world.

Indonesia includes numerous related but distinct cultural and linguistic groups. Oh yeah... Many people in other countries think that many Indonesia's cultures are ethnically Malay. But in the fact, if you ever visited this country, you will see and understand that it is wrong. Some cultures are ethnically Malay, because there are Malay ethnic group who live in west-side of this country, that is called Sumatra. But not all people who live in Sumatra are Malay. There are other ethnic who live in sumatra, they are Batak Mandailing,Batak Karo, BAtak Toba, Batak Simalungun, Batak Pak-pak, Batak Angkola, Minangkabau, Javanesse, Melayu Deli (Malay), Nias, Aceh, and Tiong Hoa.

Since independence, Bahasa Indonesia (the national language, almost like Malay) has spread throughout the archipelago and has become the language of most written communication, education, government, business, and media. Local languages are still important in many areas, however. English is the most widely spoken foreign language.

Education is compulsory for children through grade 9. In primary school, 94% of eligible children are enrolled whereas 57% of eligible children are enrolled in secondary school.

Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom apply to the six religions recognized by the state, namely Islam (86.1%), Protestantism (5.7%), Catholicism (3%), Hinduism (1.8%), Buddhism (about 1%), and Confucianism (less than 1%). In some remote areas, animism is still practiced.

Basically, Indonesians are humble and friendly. It is because they have culture about mutual corporation (help each other) and considerate. Moreover people who live in villages, they are more kind than people who live in town or city.

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What actually happen with terorism in Indonesia

Many people in the world always judge that terrorism identically with ISLAM.
That's silly!

When there was bomb in Indonesia, many tourists were cancel their visit to Indonesia. That's stupid!

I tell you about the actually happen with Indonesia. My country i s save.... The terrorism just be held by the foreigners who do not want Indonesia get tourists and investors, so the economy of Indonesia will be down. Who are them? They are some groups of loser. They do not brave attack Indonesia directly... like a chicken....

Do not believe with my statement above? you can visit my country and prove it.

Actually, now we do not care with the news about terrorism.... because we know that's only effort to destroy and divide our nation. Ask to some Indonesians about terrorism, they will said that they do not care with the provocation. They know what actually happen and hate them.

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