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Musicgold Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Corrections
Hi,
The following sentences in blue are from the media. I am not sure about the underlined parts. Sentences in pink are my versions. Are my versions better than the original one?
(1a) It is about time these players sweat it out a little considering the mountains of cash they earn.
(1b) It is about time these players sweated it out a little considering the mountains of cash they earn.
(2a) Last night it was announced that Great Amigo's Chairman, Ron Lewis, will be resigning.
(2b) Last night it was announced that Great Amigo's Chairman, Ron Lewis, would be resigning.
Thanks,
MG.
The following sentences in blue are from the media. I am not sure about the underlined parts. Sentences in pink are my versions. Are my versions better than the original one?
(1a) It is about time these players sweat it out a little considering the mountains of cash they earn.
(1b) It is about time these players sweated it out a little considering the mountains of cash they earn.
(2a) Last night it was announced that Great Amigo's Chairman, Ron Lewis, will be resigning.
(2b) Last night it was announced that Great Amigo's Chairman, Ron Lewis, would be resigning.
Thanks,
MG.
Top answer
After "It's (about) time" both the present and the past are commonly used. It seems to me that your version with the past is "more correct" according to the grammar textbooks, which advise the past in this situation, but this is a pretty fussy rule (in my opinion). Few native speakers take it very seriously.
- After "It's (about) time" both the present and the past are commonly used.
- It seems to me that your version with the past is "more correct" according to the grammar textbooks, which advise the past in this situation, but this is a pretty fussy rule (in my opinion).
- Few native speakers take it very seriously.
- Backshifting, as you have done with reported speech in your second example, is always correct, so your version is correct.
- Nevertheless, backshifting is not always required.
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2 Answers
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After "It's (about) time" both the present and the past are commonly used. It seems to me that your version with the past is "more correct" according to the grammar textbooks, which advise the past in this situation, but this is a pretty fussy rule (in my opinion). Few native speakers take it very seriously.
Backshifting, as you have done with reported speech in your second example, is
Backshifting, as you have done with reported speech in your second example, is
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