Questions tagged [tense]
This tag is for questions about tense, or location in time by grammatical forms and constructions rather than by semantics.
2,890
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"I have written code for 2 years" - same as "I have been writing code for 2 years"? [duplicate]
Example 1
I have written code for 2 years.
Example 2
I have been writing code for 2 years.
I know that Example 1 can mean that I wrote code for 2 years in the past and it does not necessarily mean ...
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0
votes
1
answer
35
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I "was eating food" and "scrolling my phone", and I found that the teacher was calling me - past continuous to provide the background info?
Can we use continuous tense to provide some background information before we talk about other things?
Example 1
A: What happened?
B: I was watching a movie, and my mom called me, and my brother also ...
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votes
1
answer
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Difference between "If i see it,i will tell you." and "If i saw it, i would tell you."
Is "If I see it, I will tell you." the declarative mood, and "If I saw it, I would tell you." the subjunctive mood?
Dose "I see" show more probability of seeing it than &...
1
vote
1
answer
39
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Is "I am given" wrong in this sentence?
I am given by Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Is "I am given" wrong in this sentence? Could you please also explain why it is wrong? What is the difference between that ...
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A stupid guy has thrown/threw trash here! - do they use the past tense or the present perfect tense when they don't know when the thing happened?
Example 1
A: A stupid guy threw trash here!
B: When did it happen?
Example 2
A: A stupid guy has thrown trash here!
B: When did it happen?
When the speaker does not know when an event happened, ...
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1
vote
1
answer
25
views
Tense: shapes vs has shaped
A native speaker told me to use "shapes".
X: History has little to tell us.
Y: I disagree because it is what has happened in the past that
shapes the world we live in today.
But my ...
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0
votes
0
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25
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I've been wasting or I've wasted?
Which tense is used in this sentence?
Oh no! This is the wrong paint! I _____________ a lot of time. Now I have to paint all the walls again!
A. Have been wasting
B. Have wasted
What's the right ...
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1
answer
36
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The possibility of using perfect tenses in complex sentenses referring to the sphere of the past that play themselves the role of the direct object
The usage of the present perfect tenses with the markers of past time has been noticed in as much as 20% of BE colloquial speech. But it is still difficult for the non-native speakers to discern ...
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2
votes
1
answer
26
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Talking about a past habit in a story narration
I was watching a comedy show; the comedian was talking about going on a trip with his dad and he said "I was sharing a hotel room with my dad. I knew he snored.".
Is it right to use simple ...
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0
votes
1
answer
26
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Sequence of verbs: present perfect after past simple
For a while I have been using this table of sequences of verbs as a reference. Today I found this sentence, which doesn't correspond to either of the rules form the table:
You didn't answer the ...
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0
answers
25
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Tenses: which one is correct
Which is correct:
I have been to Australia 2 times in 5 years.
I went to Australia 2 times in 5 years.
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1
answer
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verb tense: Present Perfect vs Simple Past
Of course, I don't think you broke the window. The thought never even ....... my mind.
crossed
has crossed
Which one is correct? Are both possible here?
4
votes
4
answers
101
views
We played table tennis yesterday. Oftentimes, when I smashed the ball to him, he "would/used to" return the ball by touching the ball - correct?
Example 1
(1) We played table tennis yesterday. Oftentimes, when I smashed the ball to him, he would/used to return the ball by touching the ball.
(2) We played table tennis yesterday. Oftentimes, ...
- 1,417
-1
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1
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26
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Tense in the subordinate clause when the main clause in the present perfect tense
Which tense should I use in the subordinate clause when the main clause in the present perfect tense.
I'm thinking about this particular scenario: "I've seen a great nation fell." versus &...
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3
votes
2
answers
35
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Difference between "have been doing", "was doing" and "have done"
What's the difference between the following:
(1) I have been playing tennis for 5 years.
(2) I was playing tennis for 5 years.
(3) I have played tennis for 5 years.
I'm trying to understand the use ...
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0
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"From time to time, I do my homework, and I will get distracted by my phone." - does this tell something that keeps happening?
Example 1
(1) "From time to time, I came home from work, and I would see my brother watching a movie."
(2) "From time to time, whenever I came home from work, I would see my brother ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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What <did you do><were you doing> yesterday between 8 and 9 p.m.?
Dialog 1
Mary: What did you do yesterday between 8 and 9 p.m.?
Susan: I studied French.
Dialog 2
Judy: What were you doing yesterday between 8 and 9 p.m.?
Nancy: I was studying French.
[Question] ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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The book I read yesterday <is><was> this one
(1) Mary said to Susan, "The book I read yesterday is this one."
(2) Mary said to Susan, "The book I read yesterday was this one."
[Question] Which is correct if Mary is holding ...
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2
votes
1
answer
41
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If I knew where she <lived><lives> now, I'd go and see her
(1) If I knew where she lived now, I'd go and see her.
(2) If I knew where she lives now, I'd go and see her.
[Question] Which is correct?
I think that (1) is correct, but a Japanese teacher of ...
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votes
1
answer
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I haven't been ... this week vs I haven't ... this week
What is the difference between
I haven't been exercising this week.
and
I haven't exercised this week.
Maybe the difference is that the 2nd sentence means that the number of exercises made is 0 ...
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0
votes
1
answer
29
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Present perfect vs Present continuous with period around now
I know that we can use Present continuous with period around now. For example
You are working hard today.
but we can also use Present perfect and Present perfect continuous with period around now. ...
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votes
1
answer
31
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What is the difference between Present perfect and Present perfect continuous in cases where action doesn't have any result
It's clear that we should use Present perfect when we want to show that an action is completed and we have some result. It is also clear that we should use Present perfect continuous when we want to ...
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1
answer
23
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I have had to do it/I had to do it
As far as I know this is wrong:
I have had to remind him about it every day for the last two weeks.
It is wrong if I haven't done it. What other ways are there to express this idea?
1 I should have ...
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0
answers
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as adjective as s+v? [closed]
I hope A come over and see how far B has progressed from where they were 70s. i find it very impressive that B was able to build themselves up as quickly and efficiently as they do
what does that ...
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vote
0
answers
41
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What is the difference between Past Simple and Past Continuous for actions that are spread over time?
There are actions that are spread over time, to snore or to play tennis for example. For me it is not always clear should I use Past Simple or Past Continuous for such actions. For me it is absolutely ...
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0
answers
17
views
What tense to use to refer to an action in a hypothetical future?
In a hypothetical conversation about an equally hypothetical future, a bride makes a series of bizarre requests to her future husband, among them this one:
Promise me you won't make any sarcastic ...
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1
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41
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Rule of thumb for "temporary" and "permanent"
We use the present simple to talk about permanent facts and general truths. In this example we don’t expect the situation to change.
She lives with her parents.
We use the present continuous to talk ...
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3
answers
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"Are nouns ever a closed class?", is this construction correct?
When I came across this question, the construction used for the question itself surprised me:
Are nouns ever a closed class?
Why the verb is in present tense? Does it make sense? Shouldn't be used ...
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2
votes
2
answers
87
views
Present perfect / Past simple to show life experience
As far as I know these two mean the same:
I have been married. = I was married.
What about this?
1 I have studied English at school, but I have forgotten it now.
2 I studied English at school, but I ...
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1
vote
0
answers
30
views
You have gotten/got addicted to sugar by drinking too much cola last week - meaning "You are addicted to sugar right now"?
Example 1
What happened to me?
What has happened to me?
In Examples 1, I want to mean, "right now, I feel something different about myself.
Example 2
You got addicted to sugar by drinking too ...
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5
votes
4
answers
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He was playing for two hours or he had been playing for two hours
1. He played for two hours.
2. He was playing for two hours.
3. He had been playing for two hours.
Which one is grammatically correct and preferable? I think the first one is not grammatical. I'm a ...
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7
answers
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views
Why can't you say: "You have been having a haircut." when you see your friend in the street with his new shorter hair?
Here are the two same situations where you say something based on the results that you see. But one is said present perfect continous and the other is not.
"It has been raining." (Ok, you ...
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1
vote
2
answers
29
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difference between "was predicted" and "has been prediced"
Recently I came across the below sentences.
Biden has been predicted the winner in states from Virginia up through the East Coast. Other states called as Biden victories include California, on the ...
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vote
1
answer
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views
since without perfect tense in the main clause
According to Michael Swan's Practical English Usage, it is possible to use since without perfect tenses in the main clause, especially in sentences about change. The examples given are:
You're ...
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2
answers
29
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Is it correct to use the present simple tense to describe the past?
I hired a freelancer who is a native English speaker to improve my writing. The text is about why some ex-prisoners commit crime again after their release. That is to say, what happened before they ...
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1
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Explain the grammatical difference between "My parents would've never allowed that behavior." and "My parents would had never allowed that behavior."
What is the difference between "My parents would've never allowed that behavior." and "My parents would had never allowed that behavior."
1
vote
1
answer
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views
Difference between "would" and "would have"
At his age the thought of travelling abroad alone would never ........... my mind.
cross
have crossed
Which one is correct? Are both possible here?
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
Hakim Ziyech's looking for the gap that didn't exist. Is this sentence correct?
I was watching the Chelsea VS Crystal Palace game today and I came across the commentary:
Hakim Ziyech's looking for the gap that did not exist.
The commentator was talking about a failed attempt to ...
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votes
2
answers
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Japanese literature had begun in the late nineteenth century. (tense) [closed]
Japanese literature had begun in the late nineteenth century.
Japanese literature begun in the late nineteenth century.
Which one is more idiomatic? My question would be focused on 'in the late ...
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1
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18
views
"I created something that does soemthing" or "I created something that did soemthing"
I would like to express that I created something, A, and A can do something. For example, I wrote a software, and this software can calculate 1+1=2.
Should I use "I wrote a software that ...
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votes
2
answers
30
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difference between didn't and doesn't
He is perhaps the most prominent non-fiction author of our
generation. It doesn’t hurt that several of his very good books have
been turned into very good movies, including The Big Short and The
Blind ...
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votes
0
answers
25
views
Is it correct to first use the past simple and then the past perfect?
According to my understanding, the thing you use the past perfect to describe should happen before the thing you use the past simple to describe. Therefore, I wonder if my use of the tenses is wrong. ...
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0
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24
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Past Simple / Present perfect - is there any difference in meaning here?
1 Lately, I have been playing a lot of App Games on my phone, and one
of them has been Clash of Clans!
2 Lately, I have been playing a lot of App Games on my phone, and one
of them was Clash of Clans!
...
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0
votes
0
answers
25
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THE PRESENT PERFECT and THE PAST CONTINUOUS - do they work?
I heard this combination of tenses in a video.
I have heard it many times when I was reporting on him.
I think it's not exactly correct. But the speaker was native.
Another example:
Have you ever been ...
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1
vote
1
answer
35
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Use "had expected" or "was expecting"?
This is not a "help me do my homework" question. The quiz has been graded and I'm merely looking for an explanation.
I came across this question in a school quiz
I arrived late. I ...
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votes
0
answers
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if they fail vs. if they should fail vs. if they were to fail (what's the difference in intensity or nuance?)
if they fail vs. if they should fail vs. if they were to fail
the only difference is tense: fail(present), should fail(modal past), were(be past)
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1
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43
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Mixing present and past tenses
"There is no problem about mixing present with future tenses. But in
order to shift from the present to the past you need to use a time
adverb. If you are talking in present and can/want to ...
- 136
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votes
2
answers
23
views
Present or future... which one should be used here?
I am in doubt about how to refer to a situation that may occur in the future, but based on factors that already exist in the present. Should I use the verb in the future or in the present? I'm using ...
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votes
1
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25
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future perfect or will-future with "by the year..." or "by then"?
I wonder if I always need future perfect in sentences with "by the year ..." and "by then" or if using the will-future (simple or progressive) is also possible in the two sentences ...
1
vote
2
answers
30
views
Can we use the simple present or simple past when talking about impossible or hypothetical situations?
Example 1
He talks with old-fashioned words like a guy who travels in time a lot.
In reality, it is impossible to travel in time, and we all know that.
Therefore, I am wondering whether I can use &...
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