Page 3 -A cat was drinking water from the fountain. It was around 2, there were a lot of students. It was lively. Another cat came while the other was drinking water. When we want to see someone, we can usually find them here, the place where cats gather.- "Hey, Sherry," the cat said. "Hello, Libre." He is a stray cat. His personality is good but he is a little rude sometimes. I like him. He is my close friend. "Hello, Sherry. And Libre," we heard from behind us. "Oh, Buttered!" Libre said. "Have you heard the rumor?" Buttered said proudly. His home is near to the campus and the most knowledgable cat around here. Today's points -The point 1- Another cat camewhile the other was drinking water. "While" in the above is the conjunction and means a period. The sentence "the subject + the verb" is put after "while." Thus, "while the other was drinking water" means "when I saw a cat, it was drinking water.", "drinking for a while." You took a day off. Yes. I watched television. I had potato chips while I was watching television. Where is he? I saw him at the cafe. He drank coffee while he was looking over the documents. We use "during" which is similar to "while." But "during" is the preposition unlike "while." Thus, the sentence "the subject + the verb" can not be used. The noun is used after it. What were you doing during the summer? I was taking an intensive course during the summer vacation. By the way, in the above the ing verb form is used with "while" in order to correspond the meaning of "while." For example, "the other was drinking" of "while the other was drinking water" has progress which is equivalent to "while." If "he drank" is used instead, it means one time act. This is not equivalent to "while" in the meaning and can not be used. Therefore, the verbs which does not have the progress meaning are changed into the ing verb form. In the above example "while he was looking over the documents", "looking over" is used instead of "look over." All the verbs are not changed into the ing verb form. It does not relate to the verb not meaning one time act. That is to say., the one time act verb needs to change, but the other verbs like "know" and "hear" do not need. These verbs means stative. -The point 2- When we want to see someone, we can usually find them here, the place where cats gather. "When we want to see someone" means "if we have the idea to meet someone.", "want to" in the example means "I'd like to", "I hope." The verbs are used after "to." I want to see you again. (I have the hope to meet you again.) Me too. I want to be a teacher. (I have the hope to become a teacher.) What do you want to teach? (Do you have any hope to teach?) English! While I was having lunch, he was making coffee. I think he wants to clear his head. Unlike "want to", only "want" means "I'd like", "need." The noun you need is used after it. I want a bicycle. (I need to buy a bicycle.) When we use the polite expression, "would like to" is used instead of it. I'd like to go on a trip. You worked hard. You may take a day off. Only one day. I'd like to live in Italy after retirement. You have the good plan. "I'd" is the contraction of "I would." It is often used in spoken. Moreover "would like" means "need" the same as "want." I'd like this material. It's okay. In order to use "would", "would like to" is more polite than "want to." Because of the past form, unlike the present form, it can avoid the direct impression. By the way, "when" of "When we want to see someone" is used as the conjunction. It is used the interrogative like "When did you arrive?", but it is also used as the conjunction. After it, the sentence "The subject + The verb" is put. When is she going to come here? Next week. When she comes here, please tell me. (After she comes here, please tell me.) When I looked at him, he was talking to her. -The point 3- When we want to see someone, we can usually find them here, the place where cats gather. "We can usually find them here" in the above means "when we are here, we see them many times." "Usually" in it is the frequency adverb. Its frequency is between always and often. "Always" means every time, so to speak, 100%. "Usually" is 80 or 90%. "Often" is 60%, seldom is 10 or 20% and never is 0%. See the figure 3-1. Figure 3-1. "Often" and "sometimes" or "often" and "usually" are used the same meaning depending on situations. We always gather around the fountain, Sherry. We like the place. Roy often loses his way. Buttered seldom loses his way. You're clever. Thank you, Libre. Libre never loses his way. Because you live everywhere. Ah, yeah. -The point 4- Have you heard the rumor? "Rumor" in the above means unverified news or unconfirmed report. We often chat each other about something. "Have you heard the rumor?" means "Do you have the news?" "Have you?" is the present perfect form. This form is explained in Page 5. And to answer, we use "I hear." The sentence " The subject + The verb" is used after "hear." Did you hear the news? Yes. I hear he is going to resign. Did you hear Brazil's soccer team lost to Japan? I can't believe it. I hear you're going to study abroad. Yes. Next month I'm going to leave for London. Good luck! Thanks. "Be going to" in the above is used for the future plan. This is explained in Page 12. (Also in detail, cf. The Sense of Time in English (4.2.3.) Moreover, "It's only a rumor." means "They merely speak something." That is to say, we use it to avoid the topic. Moreover, if you start with the rumor in the conversation, you can use "Rumor has it that." It means "According to the rumor." Rumor has it that you're going to study abroad. Rumor has it that the university has hired a new lecturer. Oh, when is the lecturer going to come? "I've heard a lot about you." means "I hear something about you much", "You are famous for something."

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