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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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?...
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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?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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'.
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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.
...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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"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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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.
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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 ...
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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"' ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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"?
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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 "...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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. (...
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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?
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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 ...
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what's the meaning of We're just finishing dinner?
We have just finished dinner.
We will finish dinner very soon
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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:
...
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