Questions tagged [tenses]
A set of forms taken by a verb to indicate the time and/or completeness and continuance of the action in relation to the time of the utterance.
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1answer
25 views
Which tense of toward should I use? [duplicate]
Would I write this statement this way? Would it be toward or towards?
"The puzzle piece shows how we fit together, working toward(s) a common goal."
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Waitress asks question with different tense
Suppose a scenario that I want to have dinner in a restaurant, when I come into the restaurant, a waitress asks me the question whether I have a reservation. The way of asking can be as follows:
1) ...
0
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1answer
79 views
Past continuous in a subjunctive mood sentence
I was doing some reviewing of the subjunctive mood when I stumbled on this:
In the that-clause, use a past tense form of the verb even if your
sentence has a present or future meaning:
I ...
2
votes
1answer
188 views
“my email ID has changed” vs “my emil ID is/has been changed”
I want to ask one thing. Sometimes we hear people say
my email ID has changed.
As per my understanding present perfect tenses need a subject which is missing above.
I find these sentences little ...
-2
votes
1answer
32 views
Which tense should these sentences be? [closed]
Whatever has happened recently even just for a second ago that was the past
And
Whatever has happened recently even just for a second ago that is the past
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Grammar, pronounce and tense concerns [duplicate]
I would like to ask how should the following sentences be structured in a correct way from a grammatical and tense( I am referring to past actions) point of view:
''Over the years, my fascination ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
How to use 'be' verbs, word 'be'? [duplicate]
Randomly I texted my teacher regarding tuition fee which I transferred through the bank.
The text was: Money transferred, but I feel some wrong in this text and observed keenly and I found that the ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
How to properly refer to a person who had changed their name in the past tense?
A person changed her name from A to B.
"My 6th grade English teacher was A" sounds right, but when I alter the sentence structure to "B was my 6th grade English teacher" it sounds right. These are ...
1
vote
2answers
56 views
What are the advantages of having different word forms for different tenses?
I'm always wondering this question: what benefits can people get from using different forms of words in different contexts?
For example:
We say "he learns English" instead of "he learn English" but ...
0
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1answer
964 views
We have come too far or we have came too far?
Which is correct? "It has to be end here. We have come too far" is it correct? Or it should be came?
0
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1answer
38 views
Are these two sentences grammatically correct?
Assumption: Samantha is not living in Berlin anymore. (Wasn't mentioned)
Fact: The Berlin wall came down in the year 1989.
'Samantha lived in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she was living ...
0
votes
1answer
226 views
What to use after “should be”? [closed]
Is it compulsory to use verb+ing with "should be"? Or can I use should be+verb+ed? My example - "something good should be reviewed" is it correct? Or "good movies should be reviewed"
0
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2answers
1k views
could get vs could've gotten
Is there any difference between could get and could've gotten?
Obviously, "could get" can be used for future, hypothetical situations, but I can't see what the difference is, if any, between the two ...
2
votes
1answer
262 views
Why didn't you tell me you spoke or speak English? [duplicate]
I watched an interview and an interviewer was surprised that a guy who was interviewed by him can speak English and he said
Why did't you tell me you spoke English ?
Why did he use the past tense?...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Correct tense of verb in passive voice sentence
I have written the sentence
One difficulty when performing a numerical integral arises when one does not know the exact function being used (for example, in signal processing), but is instead ...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Keeping a sentence in the same tense [duplicate]
What is the general rule behind mixing tenses in sentences such as this:
"He said he was hungry" versus "He said he is hungry"
My colleague thinks you can't say the latter because "said" and "is" ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
What is the difference between the meaning of these two sentences and which one is the correct usage?
"He jumped off the train while it had been running"
"He jumped off the train while it was running"
1
vote
3answers
82 views
Introductory clause with a question
Please help me solve this.
Why would him saying, "She is ugly," offend John?
or
Why would he saying, "She is ugly," offend John?
0
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4answers
185 views
Are both the “future perfect” and “future perfect continuous” used in everyday conversations?
I would like to know if native English speakers use these tenses in daily conversations. Or, perhaps, it's mostly used as formally?
Thanks in advance.
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Tense choice for “being cheated on”
I'm Japanese studying English. Am I interpreting each sentences below correctly?
She will claim she'll be cheated on. (She will say "I'm cheated on now.")
She will claim she is cheated on. (She will ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
“What does this achieve?” vs “What will this achieve?”
Are there any differences between "What does this achieve?" and "What will this achieve?"
Do both sound like questioning "this"? That is, do they sound negative?
0
votes
1answer
31 views
“…is checked if it is…” [closed]
I'm writing a scientific thesis in English but I'm not a native speaker.
I think this sentence is correct, but I am not sure (that's why I ask this here rather than in "Writing") and I think it does ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Is the action “had ever” understandable
What is the correct use "had ever" or "have never" tried it? Are both acceptable? The quote my question comes from is, "Marijuana use seems to be hovering, with about 36 percent of students saying ...
0
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2answers
78 views
Verb form after “when” referring to the future
You would have to be very upset with her not to answer the phone when she calls/called you.
Is it "calls" or "called"?
From what I gather, it can be either (or at least, I've seen both verb forms ...
1
vote
0answers
58 views
A question about usages of 2 tenses
First of all, English is not my native language.
My question is about this sentence: "Hakan passes to Cihan and Cihan shoots__and it’s a goal!"
Let's say that a presenter is saying this during ...
0
votes
1answer
196 views
What's the difference between “I've just <verbed>” and “I just <verbed>” [closed]
What's the difference between
"I have just started working on something..."
And
"I just started working on something..."
0
votes
2answers
774 views
What's the difference between say “I started working” vs “I started to work” [duplicate]
Simple question
What's the difference between someone say
"I started working on something..."
And
"I started to work on something..."
0
votes
0answers
2k views
“Yes, I did” vs “Yes, I have” - Answering with SP when the question is in PP
I was wondering about this for a while now -
If I ask someone - "Have you done your HW?" Is the answer must be in perfect or can one answer "yes, I did".
"Yes, I have" sounds better to me, but I ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
past perfect or past simple after the conjunction 'since' [duplicate]
I have a question about tense in a sentence that includes the conjunction 'since'.
Mostly, 'since' is used with present perfect and past tense as in the sentence(a) below.
(a) Mr.Koo wants to ...
0
votes
1answer
239 views
Is it past tense or present tense after the word “could”?
There is yet a law that regulates it, which then could backfire and put him in danger.
There is yet a law that regulates it, which then could backfired and put him in danger.
1
vote
2answers
437 views
Whom and who in the same sentence
I'm struggling to wrap my brain around this and would appreciate some advice please.
Are there situations where it is appropriate to use Who immediately after Whom?
Here's my example from a story I'...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Is it correct to use the verbs “want and understand” with present and past progressive?
It is very common to avoid using verbs such as 'want' and 'understand' with an -ing form. But l came across the following constructions:
I'm 'understanding' French a lot better now.
How many eggs ...
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2answers
1k views
Proverb: “A new broom sweeps clean”
When this quote is used in a past tense passage, do we need to use past tense like
"A new broom swept clean" ?
Or can it stay as "A new broom sweeps clean"? In this case, do we want to use open ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
'talking about' vs 'talk about'
I came across the following sentence on the internet:
"When we are talking about possession, relationships, illnesses and characteristics of people or things we can use either have or have got."
Is ...
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votes
1answer
96 views
“Should have been” in Future II and Past
I'm trying to express, that at some point in the future something should have been removed from a collection, after a certain event has happened.
The exact sentence, I used for this is (it's about ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
I have problem to make this sentence
We have an architectural association named IDER.
Our city is named Sirjan. So, how should I bring them together?
Is it true to say," IDER's architectural association of Sirjan."?
0
votes
1answer
73 views
The estimated length of a future event is / will be … (tense)?
Say, I am travelling in Thailand next month, and I estimate that it will take me 1 week for the travel.
What tense should I use to describe the estimated length of the travel : "The estimated length ...
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votes
1answer
104 views
What kind of verb tense is this? And is the grammar correct? [closed]
I always wake up earlier than most folks do. There were times when I would go to bed really late then would wake upset the next morning realizing I only slept for 4 hours.
0
votes
0answers
953 views
got to know / have got to know
I want to say something like I got to know this person, but I'd like to say it using Present Perfect. --> I have got to know this person. But wouldn't it be confusing? I mean, it can be understood as ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Which verb form do I use for a future action?
Which sentence below is correct?
“I’m going to open up a store when I grow up, and so is my brother.”
“I’m going to open up a store when I grow up, and so will my brother.”
If both are correct, ...
6
votes
2answers
391 views
Describing facts in a story written in present tense
Could anybody tell me which is more appropriate?
"A day in Titan is about 383 earth hours"
or
"A day in Titan was about 383 earth hours"
when these words are used to describe the setting of the ...
1
vote
2answers
80 views
What is the correct past-tense of flat & sharp in music?
Which is correct:
A flatted B note was added ..., or
A flattened B note was added ...?
Likewise, would "A sharpened [or sharped] C introduces chromatic passing note ..."
Thanks.
0
votes
0answers
44 views
Why is 'the present simple tense' instead of 'present progressive tense'?
During demonetization in India, I saw on the television that 'people are waiting in a queue for money'. But in that real-time event, the news headline appeared on television as 'People wait in a queue'...
1
vote
1answer
428 views
Tenses to use when writing minutes
I understand that you must use past tense when writing minutes. However, there are some instances when I am not sure if past tense should be used as it would either change the meaning of the sentence ...
3
votes
1answer
256 views
Past perfect simple - strange usage
By definition, past perfect simple tense "expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past".
I have a hard time to understand why Terry Pratchett used it in the sentence:
"The ...
0
votes
1answer
136 views
using past tense for the future - is it correct?
In the show Westworld, Anthony Hopkins uses this structure, as:
As soon as Dr.Ford left the room, he would put an end to this nightmare.
now the question is, shouldn't the sentence be like:
As ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
Tense agreement: If I have a chance… I would
Here is the example sentence my Japanese teacher who teaches English gave to her students:
If I have a chance to visit... I would like to visit...
This immediately struck me as odd. My ...
0
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0answers
47 views
Amount of the Payment (tense) [duplicate]
Say, previously I received a payment of $100 from Party A, and NOW I am describing the amount of the payment: "The amount of the payment was $100" (past tense).
Must the past tense be used? Is it ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
Correct phrasing (tenses) of this sentence
The sentence is " I read in the preface of the book that a teacher's manual was under work at the time of the publishing of the book and should have had been available in near future. "
I am ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Can verb tense differ between dependent an independent clauses
Is the following sentence incorrect:
Glancing at the clock on the microwave, she noticed it was later than she thought.
Does adding after make the sentence correct:
After glancing at the clock ...
