Tense is location in time by grammatical forms and constructions rather than by semantics.
2
votes
1answer
49 views
Simple Present or S.Past tense in “she gains/gained weight”?
Let's say there is a female adult. She used to have a slender body, but now she is a bit overweight. You are wondering what might be the reason for this, and then you have found out that her Facebook ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
had + past participle
I have a doubt about this expression: "I hope you had had a good day", it is a conditional expression because I do not how was the day of that person. I do not feel comfortable using "I hope you have ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
Is “government” singular or plural?
Is the word "government" singular or plural? My grammar book tells me government is plural. And if you search on the web, it is not so unusual to be confused. So which of the following two sentences ...
0
votes
2answers
16 views
Active voice Vs Passive voice
Which of the following two sentences is correct?
I got used to using the computer after I had admitted to the university.
Or,
I got used to using the computer after I had been admitted to the ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Which tense is the correct one hear when describing something that could or will happen in the future?
I am intrigued by people using different tenses when talking about the future.
I heard native speakers use tenses differently. I will try to give an example using an example sentence:
"The good ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
while grammar rule
Someone has told me that if the verb of principal clause is continuous, then the subordinate clause started with while must also be in continuous tense. For example,
While mobile phone is ...
1
vote
3answers
22 views
tense of two similar sentences are different
in the Vikings main title song there are two similar sentences:
If I had a heart I could love you
If I had a voice I would sing
the first sentence can't be "If I had a heart I would love you"(...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
“would be” or “would have been”
To accommodate for the fact that two developers were required to
concurrently make changes to a component and thus, serial update of
the component would have been too restrictive.
I'm not sure ...
1
vote
1answer
11 views
As soon as structure
Are the following two sentences both correct? If so, what is the difference between them?
She got married as soon as she resigned from the CEO position of the company.
And,
She got married as ...
0
votes
2answers
35 views
Which tense the conditional 1,2 exactly indicate?
As I far as I know the conditional 1 and 2 indicate only probability.
For example,
If I see him tomorrow, I will tell him. Indicates high probability to
see him.
or If I saw him tomorrow, ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Simple present or Past perfect?
I saw this sentence this morning:
She refused to make a statement until she had spoken to her attorney.
I wanna ask if this sentence is grammatically correct? I think that it should be like this:
...
0
votes
2answers
33 views
Past tense or present tense for that clause in a present perfect tense sentence
“ I have never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.”
Why do we use “was” instead of “ is” here?
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Being+verb vs. present perfect continuous
In the movie ''The Accountant'' by Ben Affleck, there was a scene where he has spotted an embezzlement in the company. And then, he said it to Anna Kendrick(another accountant) particularly in this ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
“was having” vs “ had” [on hold]
Which sentence is right?
She had lung cancer for 6 months and the imaging studies showed a left lung mass.
She was having left lung cancer for 6 months and the imaging studies showed a left ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Which is correct, “are called” or “called”? [closed]
Which is correct,
"The forward stages in a human test called normal stage",
"The forward stages in a human test are called normal stage",
"The forward stages in the human tests are ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
past tense or present perfect or present perfect continuous?
What should I say between these sentences?
(1) I have eaten three bowls of noodles this morning.
Or
(2) I have been eating three bowls of noodles this morning.
Or
(3) I ate three bowls of ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Has been done. what is the correct way to use it?
I just want to know that I am using this pattern correctly or not.
I normally say "This amount has been paid by a check".
Is the use of "has been paid" correct here?
1
vote
3answers
36 views
Describing the future in the past
She made a deal with her daughter. ( )
If she improves her grades, the mother would buy her a new toy.
If she improved her grades, the mother would buy her a new toy
If she would improve her grades, ...
1
vote
3answers
28 views
past perfect of can
This is the sentence which is assumingly wrong:
Solvent remains which could not have been evaporated were removed by [...].
The problem I have here is that the attempted evaporation of the solvent ...
-1
votes
1answer
26 views
Correct tense usage [closed]
It was an interesting panel of people, each of whom have been in the language pedagogy business for many years
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Which tense is “It is done.”?
I don't remember which tense included BE + V3. For example: It is done.
So which was it ?
0
votes
1answer
49 views
What is the difference between “I am always busy” and “I have always been busy”?
Here is the question:
Someone says: "Anyhow, I'd never have time to watch it."
Which of the following choice could be correctly added to the sentence?
A) because I was always busy
...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
I have been having
I would like to inquire about "I have been having". My understanding is that this composition is a perfect-present-continuous tense, but what it exactly really means in the following sentences:
I ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
“have been” vs “were” looking for
I have a question regarding present perfect continuous tense and past continuous tense. Suppose I am watching a soccer match between England and France. Both the teams are playing well and need a goal ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
“I had a question” or “I have a question”
Which one do you ask of someone when your register wants to be polite?
"I had a question:..." or "I have a question:..."
I heard a long time ago that the use of the past simple tense in asking a ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
have probably never been
The 19th-century American writer and naturalist Henry David Thoreau
knew the importance of nature. Thoreau filled his books and notes with
observations about human life and its basic need for ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
he was actually checking out
Joe: …but still, y’know, so, uh, yeah, so when he was actually
checking out of the hospital, um, they actually told him, “Hey we, we
know that you don’t have a job. And you, you told us you don’t ...
0
votes
2answers
28 views
Why did it use “would have” here?
source
Not that I’m saying you’re necessarily an enemy. I mean, I don’t think
you would really have shot me.
I looked up "would have".
We use would have as the past tense form of will ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
How long + past simple, present perfect or present perfect continuous
How long + past simple, present perfect or present perfect continuous.
How the meaning will be changed after using each of these tenses ?
I don't know if I got it right, so I want to share the way I ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Difference between “has been” and “is”
It has been better to keep money in a bank than to keep it under your mattress.
It is better to keep money in a bank than to keep it under your matress.
Which one of the above two sentences is ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
How do I ask a question about ancient thing or people?
Do a slave get flogging when he be found cheating?
or
Would a slave get flogging when he be found cheating?
Normally, slave is an ancient thing. But, there could be slave in the future.
So, I am ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
had given or gave?
Rose kept the promise she had given / gave to Charles last year.
Since "kept" is already in a past tense and the promise must have happened earlier, I thought "had given" was the right choice, but ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Do we have to use the past verb in expressing imagination?
Do we have to use the past verb in expressing imagination? Please look at this example.
Imagine; I want to own the same expensive objects and do the same things as my friends or neighbours, ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
won't or shouldn't?
Scenario:
Ramu is always touching others' ears and he cannot resist doing that.
I want to help him out. So I am asking the following question to a doctor. Is it correct?
Doctor, would you give him ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
“Had I not had cash” or “Had I not have”
I want to know, what is the correct form grammatically.
Had I not had cash on me, I would have been in deep trouble
or
Had I not have cash on me, I would have been in deep trouble.
Is this a ...
1
vote
0answers
89 views
Difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple ( I am not a beginner )
I have been learning English for 7 years now, and I have read so many grammar books with rules, telling the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple and I still find it hard to distinguish ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Clause tense behind “said” [duplicate]
He said there is plenty of simmering local resentment over such
checks, which often lead to closures and evictions.
I read this from a news.
I think the clause tense should obey the main clause ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Had Begun vs Began [duplicate]
I was going through an english ACT test and came across this question:
Walker Lee __________ his career in hand forged ironwork at the age of 30.
The possible answers are:
had begun
began
...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
“If you know” vs “If you knew”
It would be great if you know them both
vs
It would be great if you knew them both
How do these sentences differ from each other?
21
votes
3answers
2k views
Using present simple when talking about a past event in spoken English
Philip：So, you're an exchange student. Where do you go to school?
Alexandra：At the Bronx High School of Science.
Philip：Oh, that's a very good school. What are your favorite subjects?
...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
suggests that she sit /sits/sat
I have a question about "The verbs with the general meaning of suggestion and form of verbs"
a) She declined a seat beside Charles on the sofa. She insisted that Jane sit there. (subjunctive verb)
...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Present perfect simple tense in conditionals
The present perfect tense is used in the sentence below but here and here, they do not use the present perfect. Can we use present perfect simple tense in conditional sentences like the sentence ...
36
votes
6answers
10k views
Husband is dead: He and his wife {are/were} great scientists
I would like to make a statement about two people. One of them is dead:
He and his wife {are/were} great scientists.
Are probably indicates that both of them are still alive. Were indicates both ...
2
votes
2answers
43 views
Didn’t or haven’t
I uploaded a photo and posted a caption on Facebook, but I’m not sure whether the tense I used is correct. So, I went to the gym and used an equipment (I used it before in the past, but I stopped for ...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
Would it be grammatical correct to say “I am promising you”?
Which one is grammatical correct "I am promising you" or "I promise you"? Book titled English Grammar in Use says the following:
Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example, when you ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
did + past participle
I have stumbled across such phrase in the TV show House:
The police investigated what they saw, not what they didn't saw.
My question is why is the second form of the verb "see" is used in the ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Modal and tenses: if only+before, would have+by now
Let's say you have regretted that you didn't read books before, as a result you have a very minimal understanding about life at your present state. And you say:
If only I had read many books before,...
0
votes
2answers
23 views
Were owened/ had been owned/ have been owned
I have a difficulty know which tense I should use in this case.
I am to state factual information, what should I say?
in 2011, only 46% of the houses were rented/ have been rented/ had been ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Tense in a reported speech
I saw the following in CNN news:
Announcing details of the itinerary on Friday, the UK government disclosed that Trump will attend a black-tie dinner hosted by Prime Minister Theresa May at ...
0
votes
2answers
36 views
I have doubts concerning the tense to use
Take a look at this sentence:
I'd like to see them winning
I was wondering whether I could use this sentence in order to express the wish that I want them to win although I don't know whether this ...
