New answers tagged tense
2
votes
Using tenses with "when"
It's not about duration. It's about understanding the meaning of the word when. Think of it like this:
When = at a specified point in time
And so your examples look like this:
When I arrived she ...
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3
votes
using the verbs "design" and "feature"
The gerund-participle clause featuring a compilation ... means the same as the relative clause which features a compilation ... but is more economical.
The book features, it is active voice, and
hence ...
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6
votes
Accepted
Why is ’‘was’‘ used in the sentence in brackets?
An excursus is a digression, like leaving the trail on a hike in order to go see a small lake that is away from the beaten track, before returning to the trail. At the lake you turn to your hiking ...
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-2
votes
Is this true: We can use "will" to talk about any situation in the future; sometimes we don't use it just because we want to stress something else
The simple future is often used when you want to specify a particular time that an activity will start:
I will watch a movie at 10 tonight.
suggests that you will start watching at 10. In comparison,...
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0
votes
Accepted
"Until" with tenses simple and continuous
All four variations are possible and valid, and have different implications.
This example hinges on the ambiguity, discussed at a lot of length elsewhere, between whether "did my homework" ...
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3
votes
Present continuous vs present perfect continuous to express annoyance
The book's explanation is confusing, or at least incomplete. Of course both usages "express anger, annoyance or irritation."
Perfect tenses usually talk about how the past matters to our ...
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0
votes
Present continuous vs present perfect continuous to express annoyance
Both these sentences mean the same thing but the first sentence expresses the annoyance better, partly because of the word 'always'. There is emphasis on the fact that the action has been taking place ...
-3
votes
Is this true: We can use "will" to talk about any situation in the future; sometimes we don't use it just because we want to stress something else
I. Use of future tense for future actions.
That sounds pretty convincing to me, but then I thought, "I never heard anybody using the future simple for a plan like that.
Why don't English native ...
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-1
votes
What is the correct verb form: I have done or I do?
Both sentences are correct, but with a very slight difference. I would say that using "have done" would suggest you are about to finish / in the processing of making the chocolate bar, ...
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2
votes
Accepted
past tense vs present
Cambridge Dictionary defines it's time.
We can use the expression it’s time + subject + past verb form to refer to the present moment:
Gosh! It’s almost midnight. It’s time we went home.
The OP’s ...
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1
vote
"The lesson will begin soon" vs "The lesson begins soon"
When you first learn tenses in English, it's helpful to have particular rules: use this tense in this case, that tense in that different case. This is understandable. But my advice is to try and get ...
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0
votes
What is the correct tense of "see": present perfect or past simple?
Actually, you need to use the past perfect.
I said to Bill, "I met your uncle in the library ten minutes ago. I hadn't seen him for about five years."
That is, you hadn't seen him for five ...
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0
votes
Past vs future perfect continuous
OP's query:
Let's use the same example "I will have been working when my mother arrives". Possible?
Yes, it is possible and grammatically correct. In fact this explanation applies for your ...
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1
vote
After + verb+ing or after + having + past participle?
Often, the difference between two ways of saying the same thing is just emphasis. Sometimes that emphasis is important and can change the perceived meaning, other times less so. Sometimes such ...
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1
vote
He would/was going to invent a device named iPhone. - in telling a past thing
This may differ somewhat from speaker to speaker, but the version with would may convey a degree of volition on the part of the subject, so that he would invent implies he decided to invent.
The ...
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1
vote
He would/was going to invent a device named iPhone. - in telling a past thing
In the cited context, would and was going to mean the same, and are interchangeable. It's just a stylistic choice, which has no implications for how likely or how soon that "Future in the Past&...
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3
votes
Accepted
What's the difference He said that they would stay here for three days vs. they will stay here ~
The first version, with backshift, is correct generally.
The second version, without backshift, is possible only if the occasion is still future, for example, the guests have not arrived.
- 19.1k
2
votes
After + verb+ing or after + having + past participle?
I. Using Participles to join sentences.
OP's query:
What are the differences between the two following sentences?
1.She recovered well after stopping the pills.
2.She recovered well after having ...
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1
vote
After + verb+ing or after + having + past participle?
The two sentences are very similar in meaning but have subtle differences in emphasis and structure.
"She recovered well after stopping the pills" uses the simple gerund form "stopping&...
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0
votes
Tenses present and past
The OP says "To me, 1 means that two events happen at the same time during my doing she comes."
This can be achieved by using "while" or "when" with the Present ...
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3
votes
Accepted
What grammar tense should I use in this case?
For the first pair, as all the events from estimation to expectation were in the past, we use the first version, all past tense.
For the second pair, as you are describing the financial data in your ...
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0
votes
Sequence of tenses and the meaning
I'm not sure what you're asking. Yes, the second sense is basically just recasting the first in past tense. The first sentence could mean that she is trying to break in now (while you sleep), or it ...
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0
votes
Perfect tenses and the use
OP's query:
My question is: does past perfect work the same way but in the past?
I had been doing working /had worked there for 2 years on Monday.
Please note that in this instance, the Past Perfect ...
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-2
votes
Is "would + present tense" bad grammar?
Both of the sentences in the sample, "Would it be alright if I go with you" and "Sure, it would be [okay] if you came with me[,]" probably suffer from incorrect English usage.
The ...
1
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Sequence of tenses and the meaning
In both sentences, the attempts occur during the state of sleeping.
In (1), the present tense denotes a recurring or habitual (i.e. more than one) event. See Habitual Present Verbs.
In (2), the past ...
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1
vote
One of the biggest companies I wrote to was or is Alaska Airlines?
Either "is" or "was" is correct.
As the writing is in the past, many would say "was".
But Alaska Airlines presumably still exists and is still the biggest company that ...
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1
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One of the biggest companies I wrote to was or is Alaska Airlines?
Many native speakers would consider "is Alaska Airlines" sub-standard here:
One of the biggest companies I wrote to is Alaska Airlines.
Here are forms everyone accepts:
One of the ...
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1
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One of the biggest companies I wrote to was or is Alaska Airlines?
In the Alaska Airlines case, if the writing is past and the company did not change name, both was and is are correct:
One of the biggest companies I wrote to was (or is) Alaska Airlines.
If the ...
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1
vote
I did it or I've done it?
OP's two sentences:
Consider these two sentences:
1.You have to do it just like I did it.
2.You have to do it just like I have done it.
In what situation would you use the second sentence instead of ...
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0
votes
Conjunction with past tense
I. Past simple and the order of events.
OP's sentence is :
Once they passed the exam, they worked in a national hospital and received more training.'
Ref. Cambridge dictionary.
Past simple and the ...
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