Questions tagged [tense]
Tense is location in time by grammatical forms and constructions rather than by semantics.
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0answers
7 views
In past tense which is write 'I make them write or I made them write?'
In past tense which is write 'I make them write or I made them
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1answer
30 views
Why do people prefer using “will be doing” form(future continuous) when they can use just “will do”(simple future)?
I get confused several times, especially in speaking English, when I hear more and more native English speaker prefer to use "be doing" form. When I attend a class the instructor may say "We will be ...
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1answer
19 views
English tenses forms
What is the difference in meaning between the following sentences:
living cost has increased every year.
living cost increases every year.
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1answer
22 views
Use of as if in my question
(I picked A but according to my book correct answer is B , why can't l use A ? )
Question is : We were not fortunate enough to attend a tea company while in japan,but we_____as if we____the guests of ...
1
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0answers
41 views
“Couldn't have done” VS “couldn't do”
Harry Potter
Harry did some very amazing thing. Pro. McGonagall complimented him.
"He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive," Professor
McGonagall told Wood. "Didn't even scratch ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Which tense is correct here, past perfect or present perfect?
Was she upset because her uncle (had died / has died) recently?
Which tense is correct here, past perfect or present perfect? And also if I changed "was she upset" to "is she upset", does that affect ...
1
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1answer
40 views
why “wash” and not “washed”?
I helped my mother wash the dishes after dinner last night.
May I know last night is past, why wash is present?
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1answer
26 views
When planning- should you use WILL or WOULD?
Let's say a cellular network has provided you a link to go to for claiming a reward. However, you are uncertain that this will go well. Planning ahead, you say:
If this doesn't work then I will go ...
0
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0answers
24 views
Use of past perfect continuous after a long illness
Context:
I was ill from 1/4/19 to 30/4/19.
I already joined office from 1/5/19.
HR was aware from the beginning.
Application main body:
As you were already aware that I had been encountered with ...
1
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1answer
40 views
Is second one passive form of the first one?
I am to deliver the money .
The money is to be delivered .
Thank in advance
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1answer
31 views
Is the verb use in this sentence correct?
When finished with digging out ancient objects, archaeologists must interpret what they have found.
As far as l know 'V+ing' must be used in this example because we use 'V3' with passive. Am I wrong?
1
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1answer
26 views
We … some friends in for dinner
I came across a question and confused which is right one.
We ...... some friends in for dinner tomorrow night.
(A) have (B) are having (C) do have (D) will have
In my opinion 4th one is ...
35
votes
6answers
8k views
Can I say: “When was your train leaving?” if the train leaves in the future?
The context of this sentence is that I know that I had asked before what the departure time is of the train that my friend was going to take. Unfortunately I had forgotten it, so my brain decided that ...
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2answers
39 views
Can l use whom instead of who in my example?
Who the nominee will be has not been officially declared yet.
Note : as far as l know we can use "whom" providing that we us it in object position in noun clause .
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1answer
11 views
He has/having a bad connection
If I want to describe someone, that at the moment, experiencing a bad internet connection, what should I say?
He has/having a bad connection.
Something else?
1
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1answer
61 views
Past Perfect and Past Continuous
This sentence is written in the New Headway Intermediate Workbook.
'She _______ (not look) very happy this morning.'
'She _______ (not be)! Someone ________ (phone) while she _______ (sleep).'
I'...
-1
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0answers
21 views
Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Simple [closed]
My grandparents only ______ each other for a few months before they got married.
A) had known
B) knew
What could be suitable for the blank?
1
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3answers
131 views
how to say “I expect to finish sth by the end of June”?
I am writing a cover letter and want to say that I expect to finish my master thesis by the end of June. Is it true:
"I expect to finish my thesis by the end of June"
or
"I expected to finish ...
0
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0answers
15 views
Some past tense question
I played football
I had played football
I have played football
I was playing football
Can someone tell me what is the differece between those sentences if they are correct. If they aren't correct, ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Present Perfect Simple vs. Past Simple [closed]
A: I have eaten them.
B: I ate them.
Which answer is better to the question "Where are my cookies?"
1
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2answers
19 views
present perfect continuous and “all day”?
I am confused about the use of the present perfect continuous and "all day". If I say:
"I have been working all day and I am really tired now", to me it can mean both that I am still working or that ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Is the tense shifting in the first paragraph acceptable?
The Qinghai Tibet Railway, the highest in the world, begins
operation on Saturday. 【The first train will leave Golmud, the second
largest city of Qinghai Province in Northwest China, for Lhasa, in
the ...
1
vote
2answers
51 views
What tense should I use with “leave”?
The Qinghai-Tibet Railyway, the world's highest, starts operating on
Saturday. The first train will leave Golmud for Lhasa in the
morning.
......The first train leaves Golmud for Lhasa in the morning....
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Would hardly have been notable
Can anyone explain to me how to use the phrase would hardly have been?
I came across this phrase in an article in The Atlantic titled "The Far Right Wants to Gut the EU, Not Kill It."
The writer ...
-1
votes
1answer
38 views
There are two different times so isn't it necessary to use past perfect instead of past simple with 'use'
Capital expenditure of their company in the year 2001 was clearly below the spending in the year 2000 when they used about half the investments for the concept conversion.
There are two years 2000 ...
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2answers
47 views
Can we use past perfect continuous instead of past perfect in this sentence?
He (had delivered) a prisoner to the county jail when he saw a car ahead of him weave across the yellow line .
0
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1answer
9 views
How to express hypothetical judgements for hypothetical situations?
I don't think this viral video deserves its fame, on the other hand, I
probably wouldn't be saying that if there wasn't some intricate
marketing behind it.
Is this a way to express ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Why past simple not present perfect?
In the following context:
One day, Jack told Anne about John’s life in Canada. She wrote articles for her school Internet magazine. And she was always looking for new stories.
Why did the author ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
When should we use present perfect tense
I am a English Learner. I am very bad regarding tense. Somewhere in the youtube in the comment section I got a comment about a topic How many match box have you used? . As per my knowledge the ...
0
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1answer
11 views
Using the present tense for future event?
I am not sure if we can use the present for future events. I know we can use the historical present for past event, but I am not sure if we can use the present for future events.
Here's an example ...
0
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1answer
24 views
Why isn’t the word “plans” below “planned”?
Tiger’s story isn’t over quite yet. President Donald Trump has announced on Twitter that he plans to award the golfer with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
0
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2answers
23 views
Is it correct to say “Luke can't swim today, he is having a cold”?
Is the continuous form of "have" ok in the sentence "he's having a cold"? Or is it ONLY correct and possible to say "He has a cold"?
I can't figure out if in this case "have a cold" is a state verb ...
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0answers
25 views
Where is verb before comma in this example?
Having spent far too much during the holiday, we had barely enough money to pay our hotel bill.
1
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1answer
36 views
Am I understanding verb tenses correctly?
I made the following sentences up by myself and I would like to know if they are grammatically correct.
Past Continuous:
“I was searching for a job in the newspaper when I got a phone call.”
or ...
0
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1answer
34 views
Usage of present/past tense with “would”
I am not able to decide that out of below 2 sentences which one is grammatically correct. Please note that I want to know from international competitive exams perspective. All good/additional ...
0
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0answers
17 views
Which tense is proper? present simple vs. past simple
After reading an article, when I want to mention the writer's opinion, which tense is proper?
For example,
The writer claims that human right should be protected in the article above. I agree ...
0
votes
1answer
10 views
Past tense and present tense?
Leonardo Da Vinchi collaborated with Marcantonio della Torre, an anatomist from the University of Pavia. Their collaboration is important because it marries the artist with the scientist. Similarly, ...
1
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1answer
14 views
Can I use a past and a future tense verb in the same sentence, connected with an “if”?
The sentence in question is: " I will talk to you later in the evening, if I WOKE up." I believe that it should be "if I wake up", but the speaker said that this falls under an exception.
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2answers
18 views
All happened in the past, why does it use “would be doing”?
L worked at the night, and he returned home at the morning. He wanted to sleep.
S was going to work, and said something to L. L said he worked at night and wanted to sleep. S still insist L to drive ...
1
vote
2answers
26 views
have + had + participle - …I have had partaken of the brew
I need help from a proper native speaker. See the example here below
By the time of writing this text, I have had partaken of the brew for a total of 3 times.
The exemplary sentence was written in ...
1
vote
3answers
35 views
are we, did we, will we?
I asked a colleague:
"are we restarting (some application) today"
He responded with:
"i don’t understand the verb tense of your question: did we ? will we?"
Am I using the wrong tense here? ...
-1
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1answer
39 views
Conditional sentence - usage of tense
Using conditional sentence I want to express a situation but not able to decide which is correct sentence out of below 2. Could an expert please help me understand along with reason and if possible ...
0
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1answer
25 views
Understanding “you were sealed for the day of redemption”
And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The day of redemption has not occurred yet, then why were and not have been?
2
votes
2answers
45 views
why past simple in this sentence
when you brought my breakfast before I start walking in the morning, I felt happy
Does brought mean that the action of bringing breakfast is in the past it is over now (past simple), but that the ...
1
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1answer
32 views
Using the time marker “All day”, are my sentences correct?
Good day! I would like to ask if both sentences are correct or not. And please tell me the difference in meaning between the two.
We were looking for that phone all day. I thought I lost it. (Past ...
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1answer
27 views
Is the past and prestent tense correct in this?
I like that you made it a point to bring me food before I started working this morning
Or should it be .. I like that you made it a point to bring me food before I start working this morning.
1
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1answer
40 views
Can I use present perfect twice and present simple + simple past in the same sentence?
I have just checked your bank account, and it appears that you
have already received all of the money that I sent you.
I am not sure if I can use second past perfect verb tense in the same sentence ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Which tense should I use after “by the time you read this”?
Could you please advise which sentence is grammatically correct?
By the time you read this, I have already bought tickets and I have
reserved a hotel.
or
By the time you read this, I have ...
3
votes
5answers
364 views
Is the phrase, “the vending machine was broke” acceptable?
Is the phrase, "the vending machine was broke" acceptable, or do we have to say "the vending machine was broken"?
It seems perfectly legal to say, "the vending machine was restocked"; both restocked ...
0
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1answer
27 views
'Once' conjunction past tense
'Once they passed the exam, they worked in a national hospital and received more
training.'
I can't understand the correct meaning of this sentence.
I know a sentence like 'Once they pass the exam,...
