'A Princess of Mars,' by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Part Two

  Editor's Note: Last week we brought you the first of four programs called “A Princess of Mars.”  Our story is from a series of books by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. They are science fiction stories, a mix of imagination and science. Last week, we met John Carter who begins the story. He enters a cave deep in the desert in the state of Arizona. There something happens. He does not know how, but he has been transported to the Red Planet, Mars. He quickly learns that gravity on Mars is much less than on Earth. The lack of gravity makes him very strong. He can even jump very high without trying. He finds a low wall that surrounds a group of eggs. The eggs are opening. Out come small, fierce-looking green creatures. When we left John Carter, a green adult creature carrying a long sharp spear was coming toward him. And now, the second program in our series, “A Princess of Mars.” JOHN CARTER: The creature with the spear was huge. There were many other similar creatures. They had ridden behind me on the backs of large animals. Each of them carried a collection of strange-looking weapons. The one with the large spear got down from the back of his animal and began walking toward me.  He was almost five meters tall and a dark green color. Huge teeth stuck out of his face, and his expression showed much hate and violence. I immediately knew I was facing a terrible warrior. He began moving quickly toward me with the spear. I was completely unarmed. I could not fight. My only chance was to escape. I used all my strength to jump away from him. I was able to jump almost thirty meters. The green Martian stopped and watched my effort. I would learn later that the look on his face showed complete surprise. The creatures gathered and talked among themselves. While they talked, I thought about running away. However, I noticed several of them carried devices that looked very much like rifles. I could not run. Soon, all but one of the creatures moved away. The one who had threatened me stayed. He slowly took off a metal band from his arm and held it out to me. He spoke in a strange language. JOHN CARTER: Slowly, he laid down his weapons. I thought this would have been a sign of peace anywhere on Earth…why not on Mars, too? I walked toward him and in a normal voice announced my name and said I had come in peace. I knew he did not understand, but like me, he took it to mean that I meant no harm. Slowly, we came together. He gave me the large metal band that had been around his arm. He turned and made signs with his hands that I should follow him. Soon we arrived at the large animal he had been riding. He again made a sign with his hands that I should ride on the same animal behind him. The group turned and began riding across the land. We moved quickly toward mountains in the distance. JOHN CARTER: The large animals we rode moved quickly across the land. I could tell from the surrounding mountains that we were on the bottom of a long dead sea. In time we came to a huge city. At first I thought the city was empty. The buildings all were empty and in poor repair. But soon I saw hundreds of the green warriors. I also saw green women and children. I soon learned about many cities like this. The cities were built hundreds of years ago by a people that no longer existed. The green Martians used the cities. They moved from one empty city to another, never stopping for more than a day or two. We got down from our animals and walked into a large building. We entered a room that was filled with fierce green warriors. It was not difficult to tell that these were the leaders of the green Martians. One of them took hold of my arm. He shook me and lifted me off the ground. He laughed when he did so. I was to learn that green Martians only laugh at the pain or suffering of others. This huge warrior threw me to the ground and then took hold of my arm again to pick me up. I did the only thing I could do. I hit him with my closed fist as hard as I could. The green warrior fell to the floor and did not move. The others in the room grew silent. I had knocked down one of their warriors with only my hand. I moved away from him and prepared to defend myself as best I could. But they did not move. The green Martian that had captured me walked toward me. He said in a clear voice: TARS TARKAS: "TARS TARKAS -- TARS TARKAS.” JOHN CARTER: As he spoke, he pointed to his own chest. He was telling me his name! I pointed to my chest and said my name, “John Carter.” He turned and said the word, “Sola.” Immediately, a green Martian woman came close. He spoke to her. She led me to another building and into a large room. The room was filled with equipment carried by the green Martians. She prepared something for me to eat. I was very hungry.   I pointed to her and said the word “Sola.” She pointed at me and said my name. It was a beginning. Sola was my guard.   She also became my teacher. In time she would become a close and valued friend. As I ate my meal, my lessons in the language of the green Martians continued. JOHN CARTER: Two days later, Tars Tarkas came to my room. He carried the weapons and the metal armbands the green warriors wear. He put them on the ground near my feet. Sola told him I now understood some of their language. He turned to me and spoke slowly. TARS TARKAS: The warrior you hit is dead. His weapons and the metal of his rank are yours, John Carter. He was a leader of one small group among our people. Because you have killed him, you now are a leader. You are still a captive and not free to leave. However you will be treated with the respect you have earned. You are now a warrior among our people. JOHN CARTER: Tars Tarkas turned and spoke softly. From beyond the door a strange creature entered the room. It was bigger than a large dog and very ugly. It had rows of long teeth and ten very short legs.  Tars Tarkas spoke to the creature and pointed at me. He left. The creature looked at me, watching closely. Then Sola spoke about the creature. SOLA: His name is Woola. The men of our tribe use them in hunting and war. He has been told to guard and protect you. He has also been told to prevent your escape. There is no faster creature in our world.  And in a fight they can kill very quickly. Do not try to escape, John Carter. Woola will tear you to small pieces. JOHN CARTER: I continued to watch the creature named Woola. I had already seen how the green Martians treated other animals. They were very cruel. I thought, perhaps this beast can be taught to be my friend…much like a dog on Earth. I walked close to the creature and began speaking in much the same way I would speak to a dog or other animal on Earth. I sat down next to him while I talked softly. At first he seemed confused. I believe the creature Woola had never heard a kind word. For the next several days I gained the trust and friendship of Woola. In a few short days Woola was my friend and fierce protector. He would remain my loyal friend as long as I was on Mars. JOHN CARTER: Several days later, Sola came to me with a look of great concern. SOLA: John Carter…come with me. A great battle is about to take place. An enemy is coming near this city. We must prepare to fight and we must be ready to flee. JOHN CARTER: Sola, what enemy is this? SOLA: A race of red men who travel our world in flying machines. A great number of their machines have come over the far mountain. Take your weapons with you and hurry. JOHN CARTER: I collected my sword and a spear. I hurried out of the building and joined a group of warriors moving toward the end of the city. Far in the distance I could see the air ships. They were firing large guns at the green warriors. I heard huge explosions. The green warriors were firing back with their deadly rifles. The air was filled with the sound of violent battle. Suddenly a huge air ship exploded.  It came down, crashing near me. Red Martians were falling from the side of the huge ship. And then it exploded! This has been the second part of the story “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burrows.  Paul Thompson adapted this story was adapted for VOA Learning English. Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter produced it. Shep O’Neal was the voice of John Carter. Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. And Barbara Klein was Sola. Join us again next week at this time as we continue “A Princess of Mars” in VOA Special English. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   spear - n.  a weapon that has a long straight handle and a sharp point warrior - n. a person who fights in battles and is known for having courage and skill device - n. an object, machine, or piece of equipment that has been made for some special purpose equipment - n. supplies or tools needed for a special purpose armband - n. a band worn around the arm, esp. to show who you are

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Would You Like to Own a President?

  You are in luck if you want to buy a life-sized reproduction of a former American president. On January 14, a museum plans to sell off its entire statue collection of 43 presidents and their wives. They are being offered for sale at a public auction. The First Lady statues, it should be noted, are not life-size. The museum is in the historic town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is called the Gettysburg Hall of Presidents. The head of each statue is made of wax. The body is a combination of fiberglass and wood. The business is closing after 60 years. It says not enough people come to visit. Visitors could hear recordings of important speeches made by the presidents. Max Felt is the president of Gettysburg Tours, which operates the museum. He told the Baltimore Sun newspaper that his business had hoped for more visitors after the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. But attendance did not change much. In the summer of 1863, the Union army defeated Confederate forces at Gettysburg. The battle proved to be a turning point in the American Civil War. The Confederates were forced to withdraw and retreat to the South. President Abraham Lincoln made a famous speech in the town four months later. Lincoln spoke about freedom and equality of “all men.” In addition to the statues, the museum will be selling other objects at the auction later this month. I’m Dan Friedell. Matt Hillburn reported this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted his story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. If you could buy the statue of a president, which one would you buy? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   auction – n. a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most wax – n. a hard substance that becomes soft when it is heated and that is used to make various products (such as candles, crayons, or polish) fiberglass – n. a light and strong material that is made from thin threads of glass and that is used in making various products — often used before another noun tour – n. an activity in which you go through a place (such as a building or city) in order to see and learn about the different parts of it retreat – v. an act of process of leaving, especially from what is a difficult or dangerous situation

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English @ the Movies: 'A Chain Reaction'

Today on English @ the Movies we talk about the saying "a chain reaction." It comes from the film "I'm Not Ashamed." This is a true story about a teenage girl's religious faith. Do you know what "a chain reaction" means? Watch here to test your knowledge!

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January 5, 2017

A look at the best news photos and the most interesting photos from around the world.

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Groups Seek to Ban Smoking at U.S. Colleges and Public Housing

  New efforts are underway to make American college campuses and public housing off limits to cigarette smoking. Twenty colleges in the United States recently received grants to help make their campuses tobacco free. And in November, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro announced that smoking will become illegal at all public housing over the next 18 months. The federal housing department has over one million homes. “Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy home free from harmful second-hand cigarette smoke,” Castro said. The move to ban smoking at public housing units and college campuses follows approval of state laws banning smoking at most workplaces. The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids reports that 27 American states ban smoking in all indoor workplaces, including restaurants. California became the first state to ban smoking at most workplaces in 1995. Thirty-two countries had banned smoking at most workplaces as of 2012, the Tobacco Atlas reports. Those supporting smoke-free workplaces, public housing and college campuses give one major reason: the negative health effects of smoking. The Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention] and the World Health Organization says the health effects of smoking are large. The CDC says cigarette smoking is the leading cause of “preventable deaths” in the United States. Smoking accounts for 480,000 deaths every year, it says. One Group Says New Rules Are Unfair A New York City smokers’ rights group opposes the new ban on smoking at public housing units. Audrey Silk is founder of Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment. She wrote President-elect Donald Trump, asking him to stop the ban after he becomes president on January 20. Silk says officials are going too far in trying to stop people from using a legal product. She told Trump the new federal housing rule would force old or sick people to walk outside their homes to smoke, even when the weather is bad. “At stake is the right of U.S. citizens to be left alone to engage in a legal activity in the privacy of one’s own home,” Silk said. It’s a Public Health Issue Say Supporters But supporters of smoking bans and smoke-free areas say the bad effects of second-hand smoke make it a public health issue. Some also say that college campuses are a good place to limit or ban smoking. Gary Reedy is chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, which recently announced anti-smoking grants to 20 U.S. colleges. He said it is important to stop college students from smoking, “to be successful in creating a tobacco-free generation.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 13 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 24 smoke cigarettes. Reedy said that reducing the number of college students who smoke can lead to reduced smoking rates among older adults. His reasoning? Once a person starts smoking, it is hard to stop, Reedy says. The CVS Health Foundation is providing $3.6 million for the anti-smoking grants. The foundation was started by the American drug store company CVS. CVS stopped selling cigarettes in 2014. The American Cancer Society says about one third of America’s 4,700 college campuses are already smoke-free. Thomas Gibson is vice president for student affairs at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The school is one of the grant winners. He said Bowling Green wants to help urge students to not start smoking. Gibson said, “While approximately 90 percent of smokers start by age 18, 99 percent start by age 26." For those students who already smoke, the school wants to help them stop, he said. I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Pete Musto. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English.  Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cigarette – n. a small roll of paper that is filled with cut tobacco and smoked campus – n. the area and buildings around a university, college, school deserve – v. used to say that someone should get or have something stake – n. an interest or degree of involvement in something engage – v. to do something grant – n. money provided for some activity or purpose approximately – adv. almost exact

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Olympics May Help South Korea Overcome Political Problems

South Korean officials hoped 2017 would start with building excitement for the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. The games begin on February 9, 2018. But instead, the country faces a political scandal involving president Park Geun-hye. South Korea’s Constitutional Court now has begun considering Park’s impeachment. The charges against Park involve her ties to long-time friend, Choi Soon-sil. Choi is on trial for fraud and abuse of power. Hundreds of thousands of people have protested the relationship between the two women, leading to Park’s impeachment. Park is accused of letting Choi influence her personal and political life. Opponents say Park pressured businesses to make large donations to organizations controlled by Choi. Myungji Yang is a political science professor at the University of Hawaii. She writes about politics in South Korea. She says the people of South Korea will be unhappy leading up to the Olympics if Park and Choi are not punished enough. “If they get really punished in a light way, I think people will be really frustrated, and then people will feel again like there’s no hope about this society to have fairness or equality.” Regardless of the result, South Koreans will choose a new president this year before the games take place. Some South Koreans are worried about the 2018 Olympic Games. Pyeongchang is a remote ski area in the country’s northeast. So far, it has struggled to raise people’s interest.   Pyeongchang is in the Gangwon province. Its governor, Choi Moon-soon, told Yonhap News that it has been difficult to create excitement for the games so far. “They’ve been overshadowed by the political situation,” he said. “It’s our priority to raise national and global interest.”   The political unrest combined with limited excitement has hurt sponsorship for the games. That means big businesses have not yet spent a lot of money on advertising for the Olympics. The Pyeongchang Organizing Committee (known as POCOG) told VOA it fell a little short of last year’s target of $778.5 million for sponsorships.   Kim Yujin is the manager of international media relations for the games. Kim said more sponsorships will be announced this year. “It may not be correct to say that the firms are reluctant to support Pyeongchang 2018 due to the current scandal, but considering its promotional effect, we are in close discussions with the firms.” There is also debate between the national government and the provincial government about who should be paying for the Olympic preparations. The costs are currently about $12 billion. POCOG says it hopes upcoming events in Pyeongchang will increase interest in the coming games. Ticket sales for the Pyeongchang Games start in February. South Korea’s popular music artists and movie stars are also expected to bring international attention to the 2018 Olympics.   POCOG hopes plans involving the central government will include some of these famous people. They should be able to spread the word about the games outside of Korea where Korean music, television shows and movies are popular. This is not the first time South Korea has prepared for the Olympics during a time of political unrest.   The country held its first democratic elections one year before the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Observers say the Olympics kept politicians in South Korea accountable since they knew the world would be watching before the games. Michael Breen is an author based in Seoul. He covered the 1988 Olympic Games. “Had the Olympics not been there, the dictatorship might have misbehaved, but the whole world was watching Korea then, the Olympics were waiting … that was the role that the Olympics served. It helped to restrain the dictatorship and allowed democracy to happen.” Both Breen and Yang said the current protests against President Park are not like the ones 30 years ago. Yang remembers living in South Korea then, and said protestors risked their lives to take part. “Nowadays, the demonstrations are more festival-like and family oriented. I think the atmospheres are completely different.” Yang says that is evidence that South Korea is more stable today than in the 1980s. In spite of the current unrest, Breen said he is confident South Korea will put on a “fantastic event” in 2018.   I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by VOA’s Bruce Harrison. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you think South Korea be back on track in time for the Pyeongchang Olympics? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong impeachment – n. the act of charging (a public official) with a crime done while in office fraud– n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person frustrated – adj. very angry, discouraged, or upset because of being unable to do or complete something remote – adj. far away priority –n. something that is more important than other things sponsorship – n. an arrangement in which a sponsor agrees to give money to someone or something firm – n. a business organization restrain – v. to prevent (a person or animal) from doing something confident –adj. having the feeling or belief that you can do something well fantastic – adj. extremely good  

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French Man Sets Cycling Record at Age 105

This is What’s Trending Today. World records can be set even if you are over 100 years old. Robert Marchand was born in 1911 in northern France. He enjoys riding a bicycle, and started cycling seriously when he was in his 60s. Marchand is now 105 years old. On Wednesday, a crowd gathered at the Velodrome National, about 30 kilometers outside of Paris. They were there to see how far he could travel in one hour. The record for one hour is held by Britain’s Bradley Wiggins, a former Tour de France winner. Wiggins covered 54.5 kilometers in 2015. Evelyn Stevens of the United States holds the women’s record. She went almost 48 kilometers in an hour last year. In 2012, Marchand set a record for riders over 100 years old when he traveled almost 27 kilometers in an hour. So the question many people asked this week was: “Could he break his own record?” Marchand set off on his record attempt as sports lovers cheered and photographers watched. He moved slowly, but steadily, around the cycling track. Marchand is relatively small. He is only 1.52 meters tall and weighs 52 kilograms. When the hour ended, he completed 92 times around the track. That is just over 22.5 kilometers. After the event, Marchand said he could have done better. He did not see his trainers telling him he only had 10 minutes remaining. “I would have gone faster. I would have posted a better time,” he said. But the news was still good, as he did set a new record for riders 105-years-old or older. “I’m now waiting for a rival,” he said. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Jill Robbins.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English based on news service reports. George Grow was the editor. How far could you ride a bicycle in one hour? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rival – n. a competitor; a person or thing that tries to defeat or be more successful than another steadily – adv. keeping up a firm pace track – n. an often circular path or road that is used for racing bicycle – n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals  

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Turkey Increases Internet Restrictions

  The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has often had a difficult relationship with the Internet. The government has repeatedly attempted to restrict news and social media websites during times of political unrest. The restrictions do not generally last very long or appear effective. Many Internet users in Turkey have turned to tools such as VPNs or Tor to avoid the measures. However, the Erdogan government’s thinking about the Internet may be hardening after recent events. They include the recent attack on an Istanbul nightclub, the killing of Russia’s ambassador and the government overthrow attempt by a military group. Politics and Social Media Observers and civil society groups say the Erdogan administration has been moving to restrict Internet and mobile phone access to the rest of the World Wide Web. They add that, for the first time, the administration is showing no signs of backing off any time soon. The Turkish leader has made clear that he does not like social media. Erdogan has criticized Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. "To me, social media is the worst menace to society," he said at a 2013 event. Zeynep Tufekci is an expert on technology and society at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She says Erdogan wants to show that social media hurts families and society. The reason for his statements and periodic blocking of social media sites, she says, is to try to keep the public's attention away from critical or embarrassing stories online. "Erdogan likely still has enough supporters to win elections, but to continue to win, he needs to keep them off social media,” Tufekci told VOA. “His game is to scare them about all that comes from social media.” Some researchers fear that the Erdogan government's recent suppression of free expression is a sign of things to come. "When there's an attack -- say an explosion -- nationwide restrictions are often imposed" said Alp Toker, a researcher and spokesperson with the organization Turkey Blocks. What is new – and more troubling – says Toker, is that these restrictions come with efforts to block links to TOR or VPN providers. These tools are popular for going around online censorship. Such services were restricted last month after the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey. In recent months, many media workers have also been imprisoned. These developments have many worried about what people can say. "People are afraid of speaking up, especially online," Toker said. Is there hope for Internet freedom? Free speech activists say that there may still be hope. Toker says Turkey can still win back its Internet freedom, but only if lawmakers and technology companies around the world start to notice what is happening. He added that "the rest of the world, particularly the U.S. and Europe, would be well advised to take a look at the situation in countries like Turkey and step up the effort to defend their own digital liberties." I’m Jonathan Evans.   Doug Bernard wrote this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   menace – n. a threatening or dangerous person or thing. censorship – n. the system or practice of censoring books, movies, letters, etc.​ embarrassing – adj. made to look foolish in public​ access – n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone​

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US Intelligence: Top Russian Officials Tried to Influence 2016 Election

  United States intelligence leaders say they believe high-level Russian officials were directly responsible for attacking American computers during the 2016 election campaign. The intelligence leaders met with a U.S. Senate Committee in Washington Thursday. They said that Russia hacked the computers and released documents from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in an effort to interfere in the presidential election. Only “Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized the recent election-focused data thefts and disclosures,” they said in a prepared statement.       The U.S. leaders are Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Agency chief Michael Rogers and Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Marcel Lettre. They called Russian cyber-attacks a "major threat" to national interests. WATCH: Clapper on Russia hacking Clapper said there is no evidence that Russia actually changed any vote counts. He said the intelligence agencies are unable to say how the information might have changed any American minds or votes. Arizona’s John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the hearing that “every American should be alarmed” by Russia’s actions. He added that “Congress must set partisanship aside” in investigating and preventing cyber-attacks on America. On Wednesday, McCain called the Russian interference “an act of war.” WATCH: McCain on Russia hacking “I’m not saying it’s an atomic attack,” he said. “I’m just saying that when you attack a nation’s fundamental structure, which they are doing, then it’s an act of war.” Evidence of Russian hacking U.S. intelligence agencies have said they have evidence that Russia hacked the emails of Democratic Party officials. Critics say the hacking was meant to help Donald Trump, the candidate of the Republican Party, win the presidential election. But President-elect Donald Trump has questioned those claims. On Thursday, President Barack Obama received a report on the investigation he ordered into the possible foreign interference in the election. Trump is expected to receive the same information in a briefing in New York City on Friday. The president-elect has questioned reports that Russia interfered in the vote. He took to Twitter late Tuesday, taking aim at the intelligence agencies. Trump suggested they still do not have proof that Russia broke into the DNC’s computers and gave the documents to the WikiLeaks website. Can Julian Assange Be Trusted? WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has denied that the Russian government gave his group stolen documents. He appeared on Fox News television earlier this week. On Wednesday, Trump tweeted this message: “Julian Assange said ‘a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta’ - why was DNC so careless?” Trump was talking about thousands of emails and documents that hackers took from the DNC’s computers and from John Podesta, the chief of Hillary Clinton’s election campaign. On Thursday, Trump fired back at critics on Twitter: “The dishonest media likes saying that I am in Agreement with Julian Assange - wrong. I simply state what he states, it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against ‘Intelligence’ when in fact I am a big fan!” Clapper and other intelligence officials told the Senate committee Thursday that they put no credibility into what Assange says. US-Russia relationship Ukrainian political scientist Lilia Shevtsova is an expert on Russian government. She told VOA that some foreign policy experts in Russia are calling for increased communication between it and the United States. She said Obama moved toward such a policy in 2008 when Dmitry Medvedev was Russia’s president. But she said the effort failed. Shevtsova said Russian experts continue to call for increased communication. Valery Garbuzov is the director of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute for U.S. and Canadian Studies. He told VOA that many Russians are hopeful that Trump’s presidency will lead to improved relations between the two countries. Garbuzov said he is not sure Trump will be able to quickly improve U.S. relations with Russia. I’m Anne Ball. And I’m Dan Friedell.   Anne Ball wrote this story for VOANews.com. Her story was based on reports from VOANews.com, the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   hacked – v. use of a computer to break into data in a system disclosure – n. the act of making something known partisanship – n.  a person who strongly supports a particular leader, political party or cause reliance – n. the state of needing someone or something for help, support, etc. credibility - n. the quality of being believed or accepted as true, real, or honest

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Have You Been Using the Perfect Progressive?

  Editor's note: See An Introduction to Verb Tenses for the first story in this series. For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. This is the last in our four-part series on verb tenses. Make sure you see our episodes on progressive and perfect tenses before trying to learn the perfect progressive tenses. For English learners, the perfect progressive tenses can be scary. But they are more straightforward than you might think. When you talk about grammar, perfect means “complete,” and progressive means “unfinished.” Perfect progressive sentences focus on the completion of an action that is, was or will be in progress. Think about this sentence in the past perfect progressive: “I had been waiting for three years by the time my application was approved.” In this example, the emphasis is on duration of the first verb waiting. Perfect progressive tenses often answer the question how long? There are three perfect progressive tenses: the present perfect progressive, the past perfect progressive, and the future perfect progressive.   Past Perfect Progressive Present Perfect Progressive Future Perfect Progressive PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES It had been snowing for two days before it stopped. Had been + -ing verb + for/since It has been snowing all month long. Has/have + -ing verb + for/since It will have been snowing for three days by the time it stops. Will have been + -ing verb + for/since   Present Perfect Progressive Let’s start with the present perfect progressive. You form the present perfect progressive by using have been (or has been) followed by an –ing verb. For instance, “She has been sitting in class since early this morning.” The action, sitting, is continuing. But the emphasis is on the completed part of the action. Here are some more examples: I have been waiting for 20 minutes. I have been studying since I was a child. It has been snowing all day long. In all of these sentences, the emphasis is on how the finished activity relates to the present. A time reference is not required to use the present perfect progressive. Sometimes we use it to refer to recently completed actions. Imagine your friend comes to your house with red, puffy eyes. You might say, “Your eyes are red. Have you been crying?” Or you notice that a co-worker is looking tanned. You might ask, “You look tanned. Have you have been sunbathing?” Remember that stative verbs cannot be used in any progressive tense. A stative verb describes unchanging situations, often mental states such as realize, appear and seem. You should not say, “I’ve been knowing you for a long time.” If you have a stative verb, use the present perfect: “I have known you for a long time.” Almost all native speakers will contract, or shorten the pronoun that comes before have or has. “I have been” will sound like, “I’ve been.” Expert grammarian and teacher Betty Azar tells English learners: “Don’t expect slow, careful pronunciation of helping verbs in normal conversation.” Past Perfect Progressive Let us move on to the past perfect progressive. The past perfect progressive emphasizes the duration of a past action before another action happened. For example, “I had been smoking for 10 years before I quit.” You form the past perfect progressive by using had been followed by an –ing verb. Notice how the past perfect progressive often includes the adverbs for and since to express duration. You will also see the adverbs before, when or by the time used to introduce a second action. The second action uses the simple past tense. Here are some more examples: I had been studying for 12 years by the time I graduated from high school. She had been living there since she was a child. He had been teaching for 12 years before he was certified. The past perfect progressive can also describe a recently completed action. For instance: My clothes were wet because it had been raining. He was talking loudly because he had been drinking. Future Perfect Progressive We will end with the future perfect progressive. The future perfect progressive describes the duration of an action as it relates to a future event. There are two ways to form the future perfect progressive. Both require two actions. One is by using “will have been” plus a present participle, followed by “when” or “by the time” and the second action. For example, “I will have been working for 35 years by the time I retire.” Notice that the second planned action, retire, is in the simple present. The simple future is never used with the second action. The other way to form the future perfect progressive is using “be going to have been” plus a present participle followed by “when” or “by the time” and the second action. The order of the actions can be reversed with either form. For example, “By the time the plane arrives, I am going to have been waiting for five hours.” With the future perfect progressive, it is not always clear if the ­­–ing verb started in the past or will start in the future. For example, “The doctor will have been working for 24 hours by the time his shift is finished.” The future perfect progressive is rare because it is difficult to know the duration of an activity relative to another future event. And those are the three perfect progressive tenses in English. We have been talking about verb tenses for several weeks now. It is time to move on to other topics. We leave you with a present perfect progressive song by the music band "Foreigner." "I’ve been waiting for a girl like you To come into my life" I’m John Russell. And I’m Jill Robbins.   Adam Brock wrote this story for Learning English. Jill Robbins and Kathleen Struck were the editors. What do you think is the hardest verb tense of the ones you’ve studied? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   straightforward – adj. direct, not complicated puffy – adj. larger than normal contract - v. to make (something) smaller or shorter certified – adj. having met the official requirements that are needed to do a particular type of work episode - n. part of a longer program, such as a film or television series tanned - adj. becoming more brown in color graduated - v. successfully completed a study program duration - n. the time during which something continues participle - n. a form of a verb that is used to change a noun or verb

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News Words: Automate

This week's news word is a sign of the times.

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