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Caeser Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
correct use of tenses
can you help me by suggesting how to improve the tenses of verbs in following sentences
(a) The steak served in the dinner last night tasted like a cardboard that was left in the train (b) The people I met in Italy were warm and friendly.They acted as though they always knew me
(c) Because I was so busy, Ihad bnot cleaned my desk for two weeks.
(d) Almost all the guests left by the time we arrived.
(e) In the German version of "Cindrella", one of the cruel stepsisters had cut her toes off so the slipper could fit her foot.
(a) The steak served in the dinner last night tasted like a cardboard that was left in the train (b) The people I met in Italy were warm and friendly.They acted as though they always knew me
(c) Because I was so busy, Ihad bnot cleaned my desk for two weeks.
(d) Almost all the guests left by the time we arrived.
(e) In the German version of "Cindrella", one of the cruel stepsisters had cut her toes off so the slipper could fit her foot.
Top answer
They acted as though they always knew me (c) Because I was so busy, Ihad bnot cleaned my desk for two weeks. (d) Almost all the guests left by the time we arrived. (e) In the German version of "Cindrella", one of the cruel stepsisters had cut her toes off so the slipper could fit her foot.
- They acted as though they always knew me (c) Because I was so busy, Ihad bnot cleaned my desk for two weeks.
- (d) Almost all the guests left by the time we arrived.
- (e) In the German version of "Cindrella", one of the cruel stepsisters had cut her toes off so the slipper could fit her foot.
- a.
- "had been left" "on the train" b.
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24 Answers
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Caesercan you help me by suggesting how to improve the tenses of verbs in following sentences
(a) The steak served in the dinner last night tasted like a cardboard that was left in the train (b) The people I met in Italy were warm and friendly.They acted as though they always knew me
(c) Becaus
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thanks a lot Philip
Kindly help me on two accounts
(a) Because Iwas so busy, I had not cleaned my desk for two weeks.Should Icorrect it as "have not cleaned"
(b) In (e) you mentioned that "had cut" needs to be corrected. should I write it as "has cut" or "cuts".
I am obliged
Caeser
Kindly help me on two accounts
(a) Because Iwas so busy, I had not cleaned my desk for two weeks.Should Icorrect it as "have not cleaned"
(b) In (e) you mentioned that "had cut" needs to be corrected. should I write it as "has cut" or "cuts".
I am obliged
Caeser
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Shouldn't it be "had cut her own toes" ? (could have been Cinderella's ones)
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PieanneShouldn't it be "had cut her own toes" ? (could have been Cinderella's ones)Logically, I think you are correct, Pianne. However, grammatically, there is only one antecedent for her (step-sister) because Cinderella, herself, isn't really mentioned in the sentence (only the title of the work).
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Let me start again - I was too hasty in my earlier reply.
(a) The steak served in the dinner last night tasted like a cardboard that was left in the train (b) The people I met in Italy were warm and friendly.They acted as though they always knew me
(c) Because I was so busy, Ihad bnot cleaned m
(a) The steak served in the dinner last night tasted like a cardboard that was left in the train (b) The people I met in Italy were warm and friendly.They acted as though they always knew me
(c) Because I was so busy, Ihad bnot cleaned m
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Hello Philip.
Not to be rude to you, in any way, but let me put a word (... a hairsplitting comment, indeed...). You wrote: [past perfect (stands) for actions completed before another past action]. There's no problem in this explanation, but the original sentences seem to be more tricky. This explanation applies only to (d), in those cases, doesn't it? (And it's not 'had left'?) I'd read 'had
Not to be rude to you, in any way, but let me put a word (... a hairsplitting comment, indeed...). You wrote: [past perfect (stands) for actions completed before another past action]. There's no problem in this explanation, but the original sentences seem to be more tricky. This explanation applies only to (d), in those cases, doesn't it? (And it's not 'had left'?) I'd read 'had
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Hi Caeser, and Philip -- If I may, I'd like to ask about some aspects of this sentence other than the tenses of the verbs.
The steak served in the dinner last night tasted like a cardboard that was left in the train
"At dinner" would be more common that "in the dinner." (Unless it's a typo, and you mean "in the diner" - a diner is a type of casual A
The steak served in the dinner last night tasted like a cardboard that was left in the train
"At dinner" would be more common that "in the dinner." (Unless it's a typo, and you mean "in the diner" - a diner is a type of casual A
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RoroHello Philip. Not to be rude to you, in any way, but let me put a word (... a hairsplitting comment, indeed...). You wrote: [past perfect (stands) for actions completed before another past action]. There's no problem in this explanation, but the original sentences seem to be more tricky. This explanation applies only to (d), in those cases, doesn't it? (And it's not '
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Hello Philip, thank you for your reply.
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(e) ..., one of the cruel stepsisters had cut her toes off so the slipper could fit her foot.
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?Philip?As a causative, wouldn't it have to be 'had her toes cut off' or 'had had her toes cut off'".
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On my second th
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(e) ..., one of the cruel stepsisters had cut her toes off so the slipper could fit her foot.
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?Philip?As a causative, wouldn't it have to be 'had her toes cut off' or 'had had her toes cut off'".
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On my second th
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"Hey, guys - no responses to the 'in the train' vs. 'in the rain' question?" asked khoff impatiently.
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