Tagged Questions
0
votes
1answer
47 views
past tense of contrive [closed]
So I am looking up the meaning of 'contrive' in google using:
define contrive
And it says:
Verb
1. Create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice.
2. ...
1
vote
3answers
166 views
Is there a rule for “wouldn't” used to mean “didn't want”?
I have seen the sentences in books where wouldn't seems to have been used in the meaning of didn't want, and I wonder if such a rule exists. For instance,
I wanted to participate, but he wouldn't ...
7
votes
3answers
217 views
“He grew up around cars that would later become classics.”
My question is about the use of would in the following sentence.
He grew up around cars that would later become classics.
The use of would in this particular sense always looks confusing to me ...
6
votes
2answers
18k views
'I get it' vs. 'I got it'
When someone tells me something, how should I respond, "I get it" or "I got it"? I have a feeling that "I got it" means "I already knew the thing before you told me," and "I get it" means "Now I know ...
2
votes
2answers
266 views
Is the past tense correct in “Did you know Fred was a doctor?” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
He didn't know where New Jersey was…
Tense change: previous actions on something that's currently true
My wife and I were disagreeing about this today:
...
4
votes
3answers
5k views
“I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” — What's the difference in American and in British?
I know there are differences between American and British English in this area. So when answering, please specify whether you speak American or British English.
3
votes
4answers
544 views
“Today” in the past
Let's say I'm talking about some day in the past. In formal writing, I would use:
Earlier that day, I had lunch with my boss.
But is the following also correct?
Earlier today, I had lunch ...
