Questions tagged [tense]

This tag is for questions about tense, or location in time by grammatical forms and constructions rather than by semantics.

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Why is in this example?

I found this example in Grammarly When I was out there this morning cleaning off the door, I remembered that just last week I had noticed what a muddy white color it is, and I had thought about other ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
49 views

Why is 'is' used in this sentence rather than 'was'?

Here are the sentences : Since life began in the oceans, most life, including freshwater life, has a chemical composition more like the ocean than fresh water. It appears that most freshwater life did ...
gourmet's user avatar
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2 answers
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Why is it present perfect here?

I'm reading a book where the author describes the process of his work. Referring to what he wrote in the past, he says: Often in the notes and essays I have had to break off just at the point where a ...
Arseny Aleev's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
38 views

correct tense: will lend you money OR have lent you money

I have made up the sentences below. (1) I have helped a lot. (AFTER YOU GIVE SOME MONEY TO YOUR FRIEND, YOU SAY) This is the last time I have lent you money. (2) (Same scenario as above) This is the ...
ansonman's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
119 views

Why using the past tense when one parent is dead but the children and the other parent are alive?

John met Mary in 2000. He died in 2023. They had three children. Marc met Ann in 2001. He is alive. They have two children. What are the grammatical reasons for the last verbs to be in past and ...
WoJ's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
57 views

The use of subjunctive in prayer

We pray God give you health. We pray God gives you health. We pray God shall give you health. We pray God may give you health. Is the 1st one (the subjunctive) ok? Do we necessarily place a modal ...
xeesid's user avatar
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53 views

My work has been done today or my work was done today?

My concern is if I m using present perfect tense to 'today ' time will be used or not ? If not so will we use past tense
princes Noor's user avatar
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37 views

the best dancer I ever saw

a. When I was in high school, there was this guy in our class who was the best dancer I ever saw. Would you say that sentence corresponds to When I was in high school, there was this guy in our class ...
azz's user avatar
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correct tense '"you miss" or "you have missed" or "you missed" [closed]

(1) The new TV plan is affordable and allows you to catch the programs you miss. (2) The new TV plan is affordable and allows you to catch the programs you have missed. (3) The new TV plan is ...
ansonman's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Which tense after so that in this case?

Could you add this new order to my previous order please, so that I won't pay double postage (when I pay for the item added) I am wondering which tense will be the best future, present simple or ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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what tense to use when summarizing an episode of a TV show [closed]

I don't know whether to use present tense or past tense to make a summary of a TV show episode. MasterChef is an example
Khánh Bùi's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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What tense do you use in this case?

Context: you're talking with the person and he's saying some new info for you. How would you answer? I didn't know this. (Past Simple) I hadn't known this. (Past Perfect) For me the second is more ...
Petr Vatov's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
272 views

Do these all have the same meaning? "I'd rather you stayed/stay/should stay"

a. I'd rather you stayed here. b. I'd rather you stay here. c. I'd rather you should stay here. Is there any difference in the meanings of these sentences? I think (c) is old-fashioned, but I think ...
azz's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
80 views

Did you realize/ have you realized/ do you realize?

I have a context like this: We are a group of 3 friends for almost 9 years. (Me, A and B) I say to A: We have been together for such a long time, didn't you realize that B always take advantage of you?...
LE HANH's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
234 views

Is it possible to use the present perfect tense with the time marker "last night"?

The ground is all wet. It must have rained last night. Why is the present perfect tense used in the second sentence if there is a 'last night' time marker?
Elizabeth's user avatar
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1 answer
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Usage of going to vs going to go

I'm going to Japan. I already have my plane ticket. Correct! I'm going to go to Japan. I already have my plane ticket. Wrong! I thought there was no difference in meaning between these two ...
user424874's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
29 views

I should have finished the book by Friday. (past or future?)

I should have finished the book by Friday. I learned should have pp means past regret. But the translation means future(prediction). What's the meaning of the sentence and 'should have pp' also can ...
gomadeng's user avatar
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1 answer
52 views

I don't think that he would take such a decision

I don't think that he would take such a decision. I don't think that he will take such a decision. Is there any difference between them? The only difference is 'would' vs. 'will'.
gomadeng's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
21 views

over the past seven days, it HAS rained OR over the past seven days it HAD rained

(1) Over the past seven days, it has rained hard. This morning, it was sunny. Tonight, it's snowy. (2) Over the past seven days, it had rained hard. This morning, it was sunny. Tonight, it's snowy. ...
ansonman's user avatar
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This IS the first or This WAS the first [duplicate]

(1a) This movie is the first one ever made. (1b) This movie was the first one ever made. (2a) This game is the first one I ever got for my collection. (2b) This game was the first one I ever got for ...
ansonman's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
34 views

What a shame they couldn’t/can't come

What a shame they couldn’t come. What a shame they can’t come. Is there any difference between them? The only difference is couldn't(past) vs. can't(present). In other words, 'couldn't' means past ...
gomadeng's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
51 views

Whenever I am taking notes, I write down what the teacher taught / has taught - are both acceptable?

When it is a statement about a habit, a regular event, or things like that, what tense do we use in a noun clause: simple past or present perfect? Example 1 Whenever I am taking notes, I write down ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
63 views

The media said 300 people were or had been killed?

Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, while in Gaza officials said 313 people had died. An Israeli military official said ...
Jones's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
104 views

Present Continuous+never for emotional tone

As we know Present Continuous is used with always / constantly to express some emotional nuance (often negative). e.g. My sister is always borrowing my clothes without asking! Can we similarly use ...
Aynat's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
64 views

Difference between "I'm the one who..." and "I was the one who..."

Let's say I collected my mummy's money two hours ago and she asked this question: "Who collected my money?" Which would be the proper way to respond: "I'm the one who collected the ...
John Obukohwo's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
84 views

they thought it is or was important for the US to elect a woman president

Most Democratic voters in the state, 72 per cent, said they thought it is(was) important for the US to elect a woman president in their lifetimes, and that included roughly two-thirds of men. What's ...
Jones's user avatar
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5 votes
3 answers
1k views

"It'll be the first time he has met his dad." / "........ he meets his dad." / ".........he'll meet his dad."

This is from a TV show in which a family reunites 14 years after. And the son, Zach, along with mom, are waiting at the airport for the father to show up. At that time, the presenter says: It'll be ...
yunus's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
39 views

For a sentence with logical conclusion shouldn't we use past pefect?

The question is as follow : I ___ (see) him in the park so he can't be at home I have always though that sentence like this with logical conclusion should always use past perfect tense because there ...
gray shiro's user avatar
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0 answers
64 views

must have vs. would have to have

Here are two examples: If she hasn't skidded off the last bend she must have won the race. If she hasn't skidded off the last bend she would have to have won the race. How do they differ in their ...
philphil's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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Did I choose well my verbs tenses? [closed]

this is Yves: remember me ! I was (and still is a big fan of FOAO. ) We had first met in Rouen for a concert and then we had kept in touch for a long time until the group FOAO split . May be you ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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-1 votes
2 answers
61 views

Which of the two is correct? Which to use: was or were? [duplicate]

(A) He talks about his wife as if she WERE an angel descended from heaven. (B) He talks about his wife as if she WAS an angel descended from heaven.
Iftikhar Shafia's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
20 views

Mary couldn't (possibly) go to jail for the crime. - "possibly" necessary here to express future impossibility?

I came across this page that teaches "could." https://www.englishpage.com/modals/could.html The below example is from the page. I wonder whether "possibly" is a necessary element ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
42 views

past tense after 'in order that'

His group members tried several recipes and prepared all the ingredients in order that they made delicious sandwiches. Is this sentence idiomatic? I think 'in order that they "could make"' ...
gomadeng's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
19 views

He could feel yesterday that his mother would/will bombard him with new information. - which one?

When the main verb is a modal verb such as "could" or "was able to", does the principle of "sequence of tense" still apply? Example 1 He could feel yesterday that his ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
28 views

I will ask the staff member whether I (will) have applied for the test. - with or without "will"?

Background info: I asked a staff member to help me to key my info into the computer so I would be able to sit a test. A: Hey, have you applied for the test? (1) Me : I asked a staff member to do it ...
vincentlin's user avatar
  • 1,967
0 votes
1 answer
59 views

Is "covered wagons rolling access the prairies" wrong?

I am using Oxford's Dictonary Advanced learner + Oxford's Collocations dictionary - 10th edition - mobile application (licensed). I seen In my thought, it is covered wagons are rolling access the ...
Vy Do's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
29 views

You could've been a leader vs you could be a leader for the past and not for possibility

The first sentence implies something that could have happened in the past but it never did, in the second example however, despite could might be used to describe something which happened as well in ...
Quique's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
63 views

JUST - the present perfect, JUST NOW - the past simple

Could you explain please why "just now" is used more often with the past simple but "just" isn't. If we look up any English dictionary, we notice that. Mostly, JUST is used with ...
Sergei's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
46 views

What tense to use when a subjunctive mood sentence has nested clauses

Consider the following sentence: If I knew what the problem ___, I would be able to help you better. Should the verb be "is" or "was"?
Long Horn's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
49 views

Is "you could've have had this" grammatically correct?

Isn't the extra "have" unnecessary as "could've" already means "could have"? I think the correct way to say this is either "you could have had this" or "...
genmegusta's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

How time flies or flew?

How time flies! We still wanted to do many other interesting things. But it was time to say goodbye. I can't figure out whether to use flies or flew here. Is it talking about general facts that the ...
Jones's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
21 views

What he did was (to) reduce the cost. - with/without "to" - do they mean the same?

Example 1 What he did was reduce the cost. Example 2 What he did was to reduce the cost. Does Example 1 mean "he reduced the cost"? If yes, does Example 2 mean the same thing as Example 1? I ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
32 views

Is it correct to use the word 'made' in the present continuous or simple present tense?

I am studying the English tenses and came across the following quiz: Fill in the correct verb form: PRESENT SIMPLE or PRESENT PROGRESSIVE. The delicious chocolate is ____ by a firm in Switzerland. (...
fff's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
72 views

Which is correct? "…who copy/copied from who?"

Is it grammatically okay to say: Between John and Abraham who copy from who? Between John and Abraham who copied from who?
Zubairu Yakubu's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
44 views

Is " advertise" ok in this case?

The first time I heard about you was on his blog . At this time he was advertising for a concert promoting the new release of your record. I dont know if my verb to advertise is ok in this case and if ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
  • 7,243
-2 votes
3 answers
142 views

what's the meaning of We're just finishing dinner?

We have just finished dinner. We will finish dinner very soon
YQ CUI's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
89 views

Is it correct to say "I had never imagined learning English when I worked for 10 years"?

My question is from a student in China who is learning English. He asked if the following sentence is correct. "I had never imagined learning English when I worked for 10 years." My ...
Janice's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
55 views

Why was I answered "yes it did" for this question "has the payment gone through?"?

I made an order through the net and as I was not sure my payment had gone through I sent an email(just after ordering) to be sure that the seller received it . So I asked "has my payment gone ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
48 views

What's the difference between "loses" and "lost" in "…whoever loses/lost will do five push-ups"? [closed]

(1) Healthy gamble, whoever loses will do five push-ups. (2) Healthy gamble, whoever lost will do five push-ups. Which one sounds better? For the second one, is that how a mixture of past tense and ...
user175788's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
46 views

use other tenses when talking about general truth? [duplicate]

I know that we should use present simple when talking about general truth like The Sun rises in the east. However, if I add a time frame for it, will it still be used for present simple? For example: ...
Zelin's user avatar
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