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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Are present time markers possible in a simple past sentence?

Hi teachers,
Context: 'Twenty-four hours ago he escaped from prison, and our new President wants him back in prison–today! Now! At once!’.
Question: When did the new President want him back in prison? He wanted him back in prison today, now, at once.
What puzzles me here is, 'today, now'. How come I can use those times markers if indeed, the whole sentence is in past?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

You cannot unless it is specified as a direct quote, which it is not in either the context or the question's answer.

— Mister Micawber

  • You cannot unless it is specified as a direct quote, which it is not in either the context or the question's answer.
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6 Answers
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You cannot unless it is specified as a direct quote, which it is not in either the context or the question's answer.
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Mister MicawberYou cannot unless it is specified as a direct quote, which it is not in either the context or the question's answer.
Hi Mister Micawber,
Thank you for your reply.
This is the context:
What are you waiting for?’ she asked. ‘Go out and find him! Three months ago this man–Alex Dinon– killed the
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Yes, if you put it in quotes, but don't be surprised if your students correctly answer 'that day, right then'.
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Thinking SpainHi teachers, Context: 'Twenty-four hours ago he escaped from prison, and our new President wants him back in prison–today! Now! At once!’. Question: When did the new President want him back in prison? He wanted him back in prison today, now, at once. What puzzles me here is, 'today, now'. How come I can use those times markers if indeed, the whole sentence i
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Mister MicawberYes, if you put it in quotes, but don't be surprised if your students correctly answer 'that day, right then'.
Hi Mister Micawber,
Thank you for your reply. I'll be aware of that.
The answer is the only one that has to be put in quotes, hasn't it?
When did the new President want him back in prison? '
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screamerer-He/The new president wanted him back in prison at once, 24 hours after he escaped.-
He/The new president wanted him back in prison at once, that moment 24 hours after/since he had escaped.
Hi screamerer,
Thank you for those alternatives, but they can't be written by my students. The ones for this exercise are low intermediate, and this
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