Questions tagged [tense]
Tense is location in time by grammatical forms and constructions rather than by semantics.
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0answers
15 views
Had+simple vs. (1)simple past using BEFORE then (2)simple past
Let's say I was cooking for breakfast, what is the difference between:
My mom had warned me to be careful when using knives then I accidentally cut my finger with a knife.
Vs.
My mom warned me ...
2
votes
0answers
22 views
Is my “past perfect continuous tense” usage correct? [on hold]
When I began studying XXX in my senior year, I realized that I had
been preparing for it for years unwittingly.
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0answers
21 views
What tense is used in “You've been through a lot.”? [on hold]
I was just wondering what is the tense is used in the following sentence.
please feel free to answer my question
You've been through a lot.
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Correct tense after I come to a country
Imagine I go to another country on a vacation to visit my friends. When I talk to the local people, should I say:
"I come here to visit my friends"
or
"I came here to visit my friends"
Also,...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Hadn't/haven't- difference in meaning in the given context
Life would be so much easier if people could anticipate your needs and work to satisfy them.
Like, if somebody got you that cup of coffee you hadn't asked for yet.
Life would be so much easier if ...
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1answer
7 views
“They have lived here for 10 years”
What does this sentence tell about their current situation?are they still living here or is it obscure?
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2answers
30 views
Which one is the correct question? -“Are you still living in that apartment?”or“Do you still live in that apartment?”
The first one enquires if the listener is living in the apartment at present.The second one is a question of simple present type which deals with more obvious or general facts(here,is the listener’s ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Flowers “are” or “were” commonly used to design clothing worn in the 1960s?
May I know which sentence is correct?
1) Flowers were commonly used to design clothing worn in the 1960s.
2) Flowers are commonly used to design clothing worn in the 1960s.
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votes
1answer
27 views
Type of sentence, its structure and its parts
I uttered these sentences in the class."First of all I will read a story for you people. Side by side I will give you the story map and you will do this activity in pairs."Is this utterance ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
happened in the past, but used a simple present tense
Katie Brennan speaks for the first time publicly. ‘My pleas went unanswered' by Murphy administration
Brennan recounted the days, weeks and months after she says she was
raped by Albert J. ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Was one of those that “turned” or “turn” to…?
I think it should have been written "turned", right?
It was one of those scheduled ten-minute meetings that turn into a two-hour meeting. [The New Yorker]
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Do English speakers *really* routinely/widely use complex tenses? [closed]
My language (Russian) has just three tenses: past, present, future. Very convenient and simple.
Instead of
I will have been studying English for three years this summer.
we say (literally)
I ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
future in the past + adverbial clause
I would like to ask a question about future in the past and the adverbial clause used in the sentence which indicates the future.
I know we can indicate future in the past, for example by using "...
-1
votes
1answer
18 views
Present Tense and Future Tense
The question, below, is in present tense but the answer, below in second clause, is in future tense. Why?
The question is " what does the headline suggest about the main idea of the article?".
The ...
0
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0answers
12 views
Past simple vs past perfect simple in this sentence
I am not sure which of these is correct :
The place looked as if nobody lived there.
The place looked as if nobody had lived there.
I believe that the former means that the place ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
The use of “be” in future tense in this sentence
I would like to visit NY in future if you are also there.
Is this a correct sentence? I am concerned about the "are" part.
2
votes
2answers
63 views
Question when we shift one tense back in reported speech
There is something makes me confused when I use reported speech. Please help me to understand this.
For example, in a three people conversation.
A said: I like ice-cream.
When I reported this ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Would have been … had been
I am writing an essay and would appreciate a little help with the language.
Social science is the knowledge (about the world) that would not have existed had human not existed.
Social science ...
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1answer
29 views
Past simple or continuous
I would like others to tell me the difference between these sentences.
It was being a beautiful sunny day.
It was a beautiful sunny day.
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Sentence in simple present tense in a past tense aticle
New york time - Mirgants ...
The unrest in Tijuana comes amid broader discussions about how to
deal with the growing number of migrants fleeing poverty and violence
in Central America who are ...
2
votes
2answers
58 views
“After you finish” vs. “After you have finished”
Is there any difference in meaning in the following sentence?
After you finish your homework, call me.
After you have finshed your homework, call me.
I pretty often hear natives use after and ...
3
votes
2answers
180 views
The teacher HADN'T informed us BEFORE the class started
Let's say a teacher surprised his students by a quiz without informing them beforehand. Then, one of his students reacted and say:
(Student to student talk): The teacher hadn't informed us before ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Since Mr. Joval IS absent or WAS absent?
I'm composing a minutes of the meeting, during that meeting Mr. Joval was absent, but I don't know which word should I use if is or was, could you please help me?
Since Mr. Joval is absent
or
...
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0answers
23 views
in order that everybody should be free to attend
They met on a Saturday in order that everybody should be free to attend.
In this sentence, I think “should” means the past of simple future “shall” or indicates uncertainty. What is your expert's ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
when to use base or based in sentences
when to use base or based in sentences
Currently having trouble understanding the differences between using base or based and their meaning
I base my decisions on...
I based my decision on...
For me ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Does the tense change when we convert between active and passive voice?
Here are some examples I know of:
Present:
The magic is performed on stage by the magician
The magician performs the magic on stage.
Past:
Chester kicked the ball.
The ball was kicked by ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Please keep calm and wait for the right time until
Which of the following sentence is grammatically correct?
1. Wait for the right time until the experiments are done.
2. Wait for the right time until the experiments will be done.
1
vote
1answer
30 views
What was your name vs. What is your name?
Quite often when I am talking over phone with some customer service representative, if they'd need to ask my name again they'd go like
What was your name
Similarly I heard my teacher asking ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
Is “I had better ring him” grammatically correct?
My English teacher was explaining simple past and present perefect tenses and he threw the following sentence
I'd better ring him
I thought he meant "I would", but he said it is I had. I don't ...
0
votes
2answers
33 views
What is the correct placement of an adverb of degree/manner with an auxiliary verb and a main verb?
I have two questions relating to the sentence I wrote in bold.
In 1990, the federal government eliminated its share of contributions to the UI program. And since then, UI has been entirely funded ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
“Call me right after the interview and tell me how it went”: why “went” when talking about the future?
In a conversation
Prepare for a Job Interview (2)
I'm going to get there early and make sure I have my best outfit all washed and ironed way ahead of time.
If I wait for the last minute, I ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
confused about using is or are
In the following sentence I am confused about using "is" or "are":(disregard the meaning, it is just an example)
Do not change your clothes when the door or the window is open
Do not change your ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
Do two parts of a sentence have to use the same tense?
Do we have to use "has" in the second part of the sentence when we use it in the first part?
For example
The central bank of China has cut its daily reference rate by 1.9 percent and made its ...
1
vote
1answer
16 views
“If I do that” vs “if I did that.”
When speaking in the present tense, should I use former or the latter?
Should I leave? But if I do/did that, she will (would?) spend the rest of the night drinking alone
I checked if I do that and ...
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1answer
52 views
0
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3answers
46 views
is or was named
if I want to express that a person's name is John Meyer? Which of the following is correct?
He is / was named John Meyer.
I'd appreciate your help.
28
votes
9answers
8k views
Why is “won't” used instead of “doesn't” sometimes?
I've started noticing people using constructions like "something won't do something" as a present tense instead of "something doesn't do something".
For example, here is a piece from Eminem's song
...
0
votes
2answers
26 views
signing a contract: “has just signed” vs. “has just been signed”
Which one is better and suitable about meaning:
I believe that our manager has just signed a contract
I believe that our manager has just been signed a contract
Also, is that passive or ...
0
votes
2answers
39 views
“each win” or “each wins” in this sentence?
I see this sentence in this online article:
The following answers to this artful question each win a random book.
It seems ungrammatical to me because win should be a present tense verb in third ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
What to write here: Rock or Rocked or Have Rocked
I have come across this headline on newspaper "Clashes rock downtown."
Since it's a finished action a day before. How come the editor has used present tense. Please clarify.
0
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2answers
30 views
Present perfect vs Pesent perfect continious vs Present simple vs Past simple. here!
1) I've known her for ten years.
2) I've been knowing her for ten years.
3) I know her for ten years.
4) I knew her for ten years.
Which of these are is/are correct. Explain it- please.
2
votes
3answers
119 views
Had, not would have
A usage that sets my teeth on edge has grown all too common among young people. An example:
I wish public schools would have taught English grammar better in the 1990s.
Surely this sentence should ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Present tense simple - Present tense progressive [closed]
Are both correct?
My brother sits at his desk and he does his homework.
My brother is sitting at his desk and he is doing his homework.
0
votes
1answer
33 views
going to do vs doing - when talking about future
"I am not coming on your show ever again", said the artist.
vs
"I am not going to come on your show ever again", said the artist.
Which form is correct? What difference will it make to the ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Not coming to your show / Not going to come to your show/ will not come to your show
"I am not coming to your show ever again," said the actor after the interviewer asked him personal questions.
vs
"I am not going to come to your show ever again," said the actor after the ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
Is there any difference between “I have interest” and “I have interested”? [closed]
If I say I have interest in music OR I have interested in music, Is there any difference in meaning of both?
1
vote
2answers
24 views
Is it correct to use could or can?
May I know which is correct?
She would travel around the world if she could or can fly like a bird.
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Should hypothetical situations always be written in the past tense?
Example sentence:
I could follow her to find out what she does, but I risked coming off as a stalker.
I think I heard somewhere that hypothetical situations should always be written in the past ...
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0answers
37 views
Present Continuous (personal initiative), Present Simple (a voice of authority)?
Do you agree that when we use Present Continuous and Present Simple for future plans Present Continuous conveys a personal initiative while Present Simple conveys some outward instructions?
Is my ...
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0answers
25 views
Can you skip “have” the second time you use the present perfect in a sentence in sequence?
I feel a little stupid to ask that question but I am asking myself if one has to write "have" a second time when using the present perfect in a sentence, for some reason that I can´t explain:
"At ...
