Linda, Denmark
The most important aspect of my life was when I meet my husbond. The most important possession is some picture of me and my grandmother (she is dead now). I have lived in my place since 1987. I have been doing my job for 1 year.

Nuala says:

Hi Linda,

You're very lucky to have photographs to help you remember your grandmother.

You've used 'for' and 'since' once each in your piece and both of them were correct, as were the two examples of the present perfect (one simple and one continuous). Well done!

Just take care with the spelling of 'husbond'. It should be 'husband'. And you've made a little mistake mixing up the singular 'picture with the plural 'some'. Can you figure out what you should have written instead?

Thanks for writing to tell us about your life in Denmark.

Nuala

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Romulo, Brazil
I am married and I have three children. I have been married for 31 years. I live in Juiz de Fora City and I have been living here for 10 years, since 1997. I have been working in Daimler Chrysler for 10 years. I'm senior Manager Final Assembly. The most importante aspect my life is the good relationship I have with my wife and my children, and my friends. Health, love and happiness are the best possessions.

Nuala says:

Hi Romulo,

How lovely to hear that you're still happily married after more than 30 years. I wonder what the secret is.

You've used 'for' and 'since' and the present perfect well very well throughout your piece. Well done!

A couple of things could make your piece totally perfect – one is the spelling of this word - 'importante' - there's an 'e' on the end of it in Spanish and Portuguese but not in English. And in describing your job, you need a couple of extra small words – 'I'm a Senior Manager in Final Assembly'.

Thanks for telling us about your happily married life in Brazil.

Nuala

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Michel, South Korea
One of the most important aspects of my life is my health. I have gone to the gym and gone hiking since I underwent an operation on my stomach 3 years ago. I regard the diaries I have kept since I was a little girl as precious. I have lived where I live for 12 years and I have worked in a bank for 2 years.

Nuala says:

Hello Michel,

It sounds like you're completely over your operation now. Good to hear that you're working out at the gym and enjoying hiking too.

No wonder they call it the present perfect! You've used it and 'for' and 'since' perfectly in your piece. Well done!

And keep up with your diary writing! It'll make great reading when you're a grandmother!

Nuala

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Roya, Iran
My family, especially my husband (we have married since 1985 and we're still in love), and my work are the most important aspects of my life. The property and the job aren't so important for me but the permit of working and staying in my country are important I've been lived in Kerman for 17 years, since my child was born. I am an economist researcher and an activist for children's rights. I have been doing it for 16 years.

Nuala says:

Hi Roya,

It sounds like you have a good work-life balance. And how nice to hear that you and your husband are still in love after all those years!

You've used 'for' and 'since' very well throughout your piece but you've made a slip or two with the present perfect. Remember that the present perfect is made up of have or has + past participle. So 'We have married' should be 'We have been married'. This sentence in the present perfect continuous is correct 'I have been doing it for 16 years'. Can you change this sentence to make a correct present perfect continuous one? 'I've been lived in Kerman for 17 years'

Thanks for writing in!

Nuala

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Ken-Min Lin, Singapore
I come from Taiwan and live in Singapore since 2005. I was a Buddhist monk for 15 years in Taiwan. When I was 30 I left my temple, I went to study animation and film production in Australia for 7 years. Now, I am working part-time designing websites since I graduated. I have a lot of stories and ideas. Some come from my real life experiences and some from the Buddhist sutras I learned in the temple. I wish one day I could write them down into a film script, But my English still not good enough to do it yet. Well, I hope one day my wish will come true.

Nuala says:

Hi,

It sounds like you've had a very interesting life so far. And who knows what's in store for you in the future?

You've used 'for' and 'since' well throughout your piece but a couple of the times when you've used the past simple, the present perfect would have been better. For example. 'I live in Singapore since 2005' should be 'I've lived in Singapore since 2005'. So can figure out what this sentence should be?

'Now, I am working part-time designing websites since I graduated.'

Good luck with your script writing!

Nuala

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