Questions tagged [tense]
Tense is location in time by grammatical forms and constructions rather than by semantics.
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questions
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Which tense to use in this context?
I have come to a friend of mine's house. The friend opens the door and I see that he looks half-asleep but I am not sure if he was sleeping when I rang the bell. So I want to ask him about it. Which ...
4
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1answer
310 views
What tense is used in “Tomorrow I die”?
"Tomorrow I die. Tomorrow I die, and today I want to tell the world what happened and thus perhaps free my soul from the horrible weight which lies upon it." by Edgar Allan Poe in "The Black Cat" ...
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Which tense is “was born”, and what tenses are impossible to use with “born”?
Which tense is "was born",
and which tenses are impossible to use with "born" (making no sense).
I know, for instance that "is born" could be said in some context, but there are probably tenses that ...
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0answers
18 views
How do we know when to use present perfect simple, present perfect continuous or past simple?
I have read a lot about the three of them. There are certainly a lot of rules on their usages. However, what I'm concerned about the most is how I can determine when to use one over the others. So I ...
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2answers
35 views
“I won't be attending” or “I won't attend”?
In which cases should these two similar sentences be used (i.e., future progressive vs. future simple)?
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48 views
Which tense is correct when we use 'when'? Had given or gave?
He justified his crime by saying that his friend had given/gave him false hope when he was suicidal.
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1answer
39 views
Which phrase is more correct?
I have two sentences that are ambiguous to me.
The first sentence is:
I have got a woman at home.
The second sentence is:
I got a woman at home.
The meaning I'm aiming for is the present moment. I ...
-1
votes
1answer
38 views
Is this the right way to ask someone a question?
I would like to know how to ask someone about something without accusing them.
If I want to know if someone at work has used my computer, can I ask "Have you used my computer?", without insulting ...
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40 views
What is the correct tense of a verb in a subordinate clause of the if-clause of a conditional sentence?
I would like to know which is the correct one of the two (incomplete) sentences below:
a. If we decided to use a genuinely neutral notation in which the symbols did not carry any information, then we ...
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32 views
“When” + past simple or “while” + past continuous to introduce “used to”
I was doing grammar exercises with a friend and I tried to make an example, but the tenses got me confused. Here are two possibilities:
While we were living in Paris, we used to eat croissants ...
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23 views
Difference between “will” and “would” in “if he is not, they would/will all be”
“Honesty remains the best policy in dealing with a potential conflict,
not only internally but externally as well, and the competing firms
have much to gain and little to lose in being as open as ...
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3answers
53 views
“Had…been” or “Was…been,” and “would have” or “would had”?
I want to say, if some person was told about the situation before, she wouldn't have reacted that way.
So which one seems grammatically correct?
Had Ishaani known about the situation before, she ...
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26 views
Tense Problem: what I (have) learned was/is/have been
I am writing an essay:
You might wonder why I consider such an event invaluable. Well, what I learned/have learned was/is/has been that I could/can gain a sense of pleasure when helping people in ...
1
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1answer
39 views
What tense would be better in these “since when” sentences and why
what is the difference between these sentences
Since when are you responsible for that project? Is this one ok ?
Since when were you responsible for that project ?
Since when have you been ...
0
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1answer
34 views
Which one is appropriate to use? 'works' or 'worked' [closed]
Which tense is appropriate to use 'works' or 'worked'? Please explain.
1.Leona works harder than any other lawyer in the firm.
2.Leona worked harder than any other lawyer in the firm
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2answers
50 views
In the morning, I ask somebody “what will you have for lunch?” or “what do you have for lunch?” which one is correct
In the morning, I ask:
what will you have for lunch?
what do you have for lunch?
which one is correct?
0
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2answers
51 views
What is the tense of “I play now”?
I play games now. I want a chocolate now.
Why not I am playing/wanting?
What is the tense of such these sentences?
Are they grammatical?
Are they formal?
Edit: If that was a simple present ...
1
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1answer
22 views
What is the need to say a full “sentence”?
Definition of Tense:
Tense is the form that a verb takes to show the time it happened.
So if someone ask me to give an example of the present tense can I answer with the basic from of a verb eg, ...
1
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1answer
25 views
A question about tense agreement
Is the following sentence gramatically correct?
I didn't understand what he wants to tell you.
I think that it expresses that at some time in the past I didn't understand what he still ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
Correct error in perfect tense
I'm self-studying English and in an exercise I'm asked to correct the errors in perfect tense of a series of sentences. One of them is the following
Supposing they would have got married, wouldn't ...
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0answers
16 views
Question regarding subject-verb agreement
Is the following statement correct:
Presenting research at various forums and participating in numerous science fairs have introduced me to the world of research communication
Or is the italicised ...
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0answers
16 views
Is the use of past tense correct in this context?
An American official said on Saturday night that senior military officials had decided that, with American forces largely withdrawing from Syria, commandos should take action quickly to try to kill or ...
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0answers
13 views
Has finished or will have finished? [duplicate]
There's a sentence: I think I must do it before he has finished / he will have finished his project.
What's correct?
Or maybe does it need another tense?
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1answer
16 views
Before with past tenses
Which tense should I use here?
There were documents in his briefcase which he needed to read before he was going (or went) in to work the next day?
0
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1answer
35 views
If you fail or If you failed
If you fail to prove, manager will fire you.
If you failed to prove, manager will fire you.
Which sentence is more appropriate for a scenario where the speaker is warning someone that they risk ...
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26 views
I want to send an email, just don't know if it's correct
My manager in my new job wants me to send him pension papers of January 19 and so on.
The last time I was employed was in novem 2018. I saw his email after a week.
-
Hey, sorry it took me so long to ...
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1answer
45 views
After she had completed her home work, she went to bed
After she had completed her home work, she went to bed.
Is the sentence correct or not? Is it had completed or have completed?
0
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1answer
56 views
How to ask for someone to call when lunch is over
I want my friend to call me once he is finished his lunch. What is the most correct way?
Please tell me once eat lunch.
Please tell me once ate lunch.
Please tell me once have eaten lunch
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0answers
22 views
present perfect vs progressive form
I found the sentence below on the Internet.
Part of the water reaching the ground infiltrates and percolates down
to form the groundwater.
Can this be rewritten as follows:?
Part of the ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Spent or spend?
Which is the right sentence, and, most important: why, which tense?
This setting makes us long for delicious food, fine wine and an evening spend with friends.
This setting makes us long for ...
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2answers
43 views
Past perfect tense and simple past [duplicate]
When Jack entered the room, I had not recognized him because he lost so much weight.
For above sentence,I use past perfect tense(had not recognized),because there were two situations in the past.
...
2
votes
1answer
37 views
'has' vs. 'had'
:)
I have online students studying English with me. A small number of them ask grammar questions. Sometimes the best answer I can offer is that I don’t know but will find an answer. Sometimes I’m ...
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3answers
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What does “would have done” mean when it's not in subjunctive mood?
Source
Levana would have known right away who you are, although I doubt
anyone else has figured it out yet, and Levana will try to keep it
hidden as long as she can.
There is no "if", so it's ...
0
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1answer
50 views
Using present perfect simple in a real world situation
I do not know when I have to use the present perfect simple (and others tenses in perfect form). I normally use: present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, future, ... for write/...
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1answer
23 views
Verb Past Tense Help
As the storm approached, the sky becomes dark and the wind increased.
Should it be becomes or became?
2
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1answer
34 views
Why do they correct simple past to present perfect here?
I've often found online articles where corrections are made to signify a different tense where I think there's no need to. For example:
... he tells BBC Culture. “... I [have] always felt like they ...
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vote
2answers
71 views
“Listen for” to mean “left with a feeling”
The other day I was given an answer:
In your sentence I would use give, give does mean a present, a gift
I was going to give you another book
Here is a warning: I am listening for ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Talking about something general with clause that happens earlier - past tense or not?
Background story: My friend likes to boast about his work achievements a lot.
I want to complain about it to others. Which one below is grammatically correct?
The hard concept for me: I don't know ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Should it be will or would after present perfect?
My experiences have told me that my interest would/will never decrease.
Which one is better and what's the difference?
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Present Perfect Tense with State Verbs
Can I use the Present Perfect SIMPLE with State Verbs like “Thought” and “Know”? Like, for example, “I’ve thought you were my friend” and “I’ve known she was nice.” Can I use it? If I can’t, why?
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2answers
75 views
Past tense of “screenshot”
Present tense
I should screenshot this.
He is taking a screenshot.
Past tense?
I screenshotted that.
He took a screenshot.
I don't know if the above past tenses are correct. is ...
0
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2answers
127 views
“have stayed” or “had been staying” which one is correct?
I have stayed in your hotel for several days last month.
I had been staying in your hotel for several days last month.
Which one is correct?
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Why do people use “did” instead of “do” when asking something?
When I go to shops to buy something, always workers ask me,
"Did you need a bag?" or "Did you need a receipt?".
I'm really wondering why they say "Did" than "Do" because I learned that when I talk ...
0
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2answers
36 views
Is present continuous appropiate here?
Is the following sentence correct?
He is just buying a gift for his mother.
I am not sure if it is all right to have that "just" there and this lead me to believe that maybe the tense is wrong.
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0answers
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Will inform if any work “is” complete or “has been” completed?
A. You will be informed if any work is complete.
B. You will be informed if any work has been completed.
I mean to say I will inform you when a job is over and nothing is balance. So which ...
0
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2answers
27 views
Tense confusion
I had been the assistant to the director for less than a year.
Why is "Had been" used here? Is it okay to use "Was" instead of "Had been"?
Can anyone please explain?
0
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1answer
41 views
Verb + ed for Present Tense
Is the sentence below in present tense or past tense?
I just entered my house.
If we give context to the above sentence, can we fit this in both the tenses?
a) I just entered my house to see ...
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0answers
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Sentence grammar problem about “To” --> “I will help you (To) study English” [duplicate]
Sentence grammar problem, I don't know when should I need to add "To" into a sentence, please help me to give me more information about Tense structure or Grammar architecture feedback, thanks.
...
0
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1answer
37 views
The difference between Past Simple vs Past Continuous vs Used to & every day
Which tense should I use if I was on holidays which lasted 2 weeks and during that time I rode a bike every day?
It was a great time because I rode a bike every day.
It was a great time ...
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0answers
6 views
Basic verb and tense problem
1) The struggle is to see and know in the light of what I knew in my past.
2) The struggle is to see and know in the light of what I know in my past.
Is 'knew' correct here or we have to use 'know'?
...
