About the past tense

Question

Hi,

I need to understand something. Now, I know that when talk about the past, we use the past tense. However, what does one do when she/he wants to say this:

Yesterday, I went to my aunt's house. There was a baby there. The baby was 2 years old.

*My question is this: Do we use the past tense in the sentence: The baby was 2 years old. ????

We're talking about yesterday, not years ago. How do we write this sentence?

Thanks,

MVB

Alda1119 · Accepted Answer

Hi!

Yesterday, I went to my aunt's house. There was a 2 year old baby there.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I need to understand something. Now, I know that when talk about the past, we use the past tense. However, what does one do when she/he wants to say this:

Yesterday, I went to my aunt's house. There was a baby there. The baby was 2 years old.

*My question is this: Do we use the past tense in the sentence: The baby was 2 years old. ????

We're talking about yesterday, not years ago. How do we write this sentence?

The sentence is fine as you wrote it.

Perhaps you are thinking that the baby is still 2 years old and is still at your aunt's house, ie at the time you say this.

In such a case, where the facts are still true, we often use present tense.

ie Yesterday, I went to my aunt's house. There is a baby there. The baby is 2 years old.

If you do this, I as the listener hear that you are focused on the present situation. It makes me think that we may speak again of this baby at sometime in the future, because you are telling me about its current situation.

Best wishes, Clive

About the past tense

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