There's been a little concert

[backasswardz]

given by nelen last Sunday. It has taken place in one artist's studio room. Helen's been singing ancient Celtic ballads, accompanied on a lute and guitar. The audience was not large but greatly impressed, so that when the concert was over, they didn't want to let the singer go for quite a good while. She repeated three or four songs

Comments

[nelen]

There's been a little story, written by backasswardz, and it's very sweet and I would not change a word of it, had you not specifically asked me to correct your grammar in this public way

THANK YOU MUCHLY!

[backasswardz]

Gosh, I didn't realize how far my pidgin differs from normal. :(
It reminded me of one Chekhov's (or someone else's) personage who used to say: "Do not try to speak beautiful, please." Well, now I see that it's better to simplify than to complicate, indeed. Geez, how many needless constructions I had heaped up, while the truth is so simple.

On the second thought, I decided to leave the post as it is, for everyone's edification (everyone interested in English). Otherwise, without the original post, the main point of the issue would be lost, if they had not that glaring example of improper English use.

Now it gets clear why English speakers fear my speeches in all places any day. :) And thank you for the shock therapy, which I needed so much, and which works the best always.

Re: THANK YOU MUCHLY!

[nelen]

I wouldn't say there is a huge difference between the two versions and personally, I like yours better because it's what you actually said :))

Re: THANK YOU MUCHLY!

[backasswardz]

My problem is that, unfortunately, I don't say what I intend to say actually.
:)

[nelen]

Sorry, I forgot to say that you can indeed use the +there's been+ construction if something has just happened; if it happened so recently that it is still, psychologically, in the present.
So, you could say, +there's been a little concert+ if it has just finished and the music is still hanging in the air.
Unless you have a good reason, it's best to use active rather than passive.
+There's been a little concert given by nelen+ lays emphasis on the concert.
+Nelen's just given a little concert+ puts the emphasis on the singer.

[backasswardz]

I'm afraid, here I'm quite right because, psychologically, it IS still hanging in the air. I mean, the impression was so strong that it's been continuing till now. And do not dare to disagree!
:)

[nelen]

Right :))