1

I wrote a sentence under the online news comment section:

I would say he does a good job this time, practically showing he's tough with zero consequence, ideally showing what's normal and should be done.

But I am confused with many things,

  1. he did what I think is a good job before the news is out, so I should use past tense "did", but I was commenting under the latest news section(but still two days old), it's so recent that I feel does is more proper, and to me since I know he did a good job only when I read the news, it's like he just does it a few second ago, so it's more natural to me to use present tense, so what should I use?
  2. In the second half of the sentence, it sounds well to use adverb practically and ideally, but there is no verb there, is this usage valid? Or I have to use comma to separate the sentence? Like "...this time, practically, showing...", but this sounds strange to me.
Improve this question
1
  • 1. did because in context this statement could only be made after the "job" was completed (when there is only one instance). But you could say "I would say he does a good job most of the time" where the time frame is unspecified.
    – user3169
    Dec 5, 2016 at 6:34

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

If you are commenting on a news article that relates what a person did, you should say

He did a good job

If you want to say that someone habitually does quality work, you would say

He does a good job

The fact that you read about it only recently is not relevant.

I'm a little confused by the second part of your question. First there is a verb there: practically and ideally modify the verb showing. Second, practically has two meanings: almost and in a practical manner. Used in the first way:

He practically ran all the way home.

Used in the second way:

Practically, it's too far to walk

If you mean to use it in the second way, which I think you do, it would be clearer if it came after showing. As in

...showing practically that he is tough....

Improve this answer
1
  • "its too far to walk" - it's
    – John Dvorak
    Dec 7, 2016 at 23:39

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .