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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
confused about tenses
Hi,
Please take a look at this and tell me why it is OK to use both the present and present continuous tenses. I have tendency to use a present continous for the likes of this sentential siutation. The part in present continous 'while doing the task' seems to go better if the tense in the main clause is continous too, but I do see the use of the present tense a lot too.
Many of the elements of text overlap with the speaker, since the speaker is saying the text and that's what learners listen (are listening??) to while doing the task.
Please take a look at this and tell me why it is OK to use both the present and present continuous tenses. I have tendency to use a present continous for the likes of this sentential siutation. The part in present continous 'while doing the task' seems to go better if the tense in the main clause is continous too, but I do see the use of the present tense a lot too.
Many of the elements of text overlap with the speaker, since the speaker is saying the text and that's what learners listen (are listening??) to while doing the task.
Top answer
Either form will work. Here, I think the continuous is a better choice, since say is in the continuous form also. The simple present is a perfective form (it simply states the act) while the continuous is imperfective (it looks within the duration of the activity).
- Either form will work.
- Here, I think the continuous is a better choice, since say is in the continuous form also.
- The simple present is a perfective form (it simply states the act) while the continuous is imperfective (it looks within the duration of the activity).
- Consequently, we often see these two forms together when one relatively instantaneous action takes place during another, ongoing activity: I was riding my bike when a policeman stopped me.
- Does that help?
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2 Answers
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Either form will work. Here, I think the continuous is a better choice, since say is in the continuous form also. The simple present is a perfective form (it simply states the act) while the continuous is imperfective (it looks within the duration of the activity). Consequently, we often see these two forms together when one relatively instantaneous action takes place during another, ong
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Yes, Mr. M.
I was going in circles with this question when Mr.M (that is you) stepped in and supplied me with the answer.
I was going in circles with this question when Mr.M (that is you) stepped in and supplied me with the answer.
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