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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
a question about tenses
I am befuddled when I came across the following paragraphs:
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/annual/ar10_11/ar10_11.pdf
on page 36 of the report, it says:
"During 2010/11 we were engaged in BCBS’s work. Throughout the year, we played an active part in shaping the direction of banking regulatory reform. We supported the delivery of an ambitious agenda of change to the regulatory framework, both domestically and internationally, and we maintained the momentum on international reform, carrying forward work from global bodies and through European Directives."
However,
on page 37 of the report, it says:
"During 2010/11, we have played a key role internationally in shaping and delivering initiatives to improve the supervision of cross-border firms. In particular, we have focused on how to ensure that the different national supervisors of cross-border firms work together effectively through supervisory ‘colleges’ to share information, exchange views on the risks facing the group and how well they are being managed, undertake
joint supervisory work where appropriate, and to ensure that plans are developed for how to work together in times of crisis."
Why under the same context, i.e. "During 2010/11", the writer used past tense in the former paragraph, but used present perfect in the latter paragraph? Are the 2 tenses delivering different meanings to readers in this report? Thanks.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/annual/ar10_11/ar10_11.pdf
on page 36 of the report, it says:
"During 2010/11 we were engaged in BCBS’s work. Throughout the year, we played an active part in shaping the direction of banking regulatory reform. We supported the delivery of an ambitious agenda of change to the regulatory framework, both domestically and internationally, and we maintained the momentum on international reform, carrying forward work from global bodies and through European Directives."
However,
on page 37 of the report, it says:
"During 2010/11, we have played a key role internationally in shaping and delivering initiatives to improve the supervision of cross-border firms. In particular, we have focused on how to ensure that the different national supervisors of cross-border firms work together effectively through supervisory ‘colleges’ to share information, exchange views on the risks facing the group and how well they are being managed, undertake
joint supervisory work where appropriate, and to ensure that plans are developed for how to work together in times of crisis."
Why under the same context, i.e. "During 2010/11", the writer used past tense in the former paragraph, but used present perfect in the latter paragraph? Are the 2 tenses delivering different meanings to readers in this report? Thanks.
Top answer
g. "we have played") implies that, at the time of writing, the year is coming to an end, or has just ended. g.
- g.
- "we have played") implies that, at the time of writing, the year is coming to an end, or has just ended.
- g.
- "we were engaged") implies that the year is in the past.
- If written at or just after the year end both styles may therefore be possible, though ideally in one report they would be harmonised.
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2 Answers
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The present perfect (e.g. "we have played") implies that, at the time of writing, the year is coming to an end, or has just ended. The simple past (e.g. "we were engaged") implies that the year is in the past. If written at or just after the year end both styles may therefore be possible, though ideally in one report they would be harmonised.
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Maybe they were written by two different people.
#36 = past tense. These actions have concluded.
#37 = present perfect = the actions may still be in progress. But it seems more like it should have been written in the past tense. I don't see much difference in the meaning.
#36 = past tense. These actions have concluded.
#37 = present perfect = the actions may still be in progress. But it seems more like it should have been written in the past tense. I don't see much difference in the meaning.
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