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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Correctness of story tenses
Hi. Please see if the tenses are correct. Would say using mainly present tenses a correct way to tell a story? Note that this is made-up to ask questions.
He usually gets up early to do morning exercise and make breakfast. He goes to work at around 8 by taking city buses. He works nine to five. He comes home at around and takes a shower. One day, he comes home late and finds a dog outside his house. He wonders what he has to do. He wonders if anyone has brought it here. The nearest house is about 10 minutes away. He indulges in all kinds of thoughts. He thinks if he keeps the dog he might have to give it to the owner if the owner shows up. He decides he is not going (I think the verb "will not" is not correct. Is it correct?) keep the dog but take it to the police station to see what he has to do next. He takes it to the police station. They find the owner and give it to the owner later.
This sentence is not related to the above made-up story but could we write this?
He decides not to spend time getting to know her since it is going to (I think verbs like "might prove to" or "will" is not correct. Is that right?) require much of his attention and is going to take much time away from studying which he has to do now.
He usually gets up early to do morning exercise and make breakfast. He goes to work at around 8 by taking city buses. He works nine to five. He comes home at around and takes a shower. One day, he comes home late and finds a dog outside his house. He wonders what he has to do. He wonders if anyone has brought it here. The nearest house is about 10 minutes away. He indulges in all kinds of thoughts. He thinks if he keeps the dog he might have to give it to the owner if the owner shows up. He decides he is not going (I think the verb "will not" is not correct. Is it correct?) keep the dog but take it to the police station to see what he has to do next. He takes it to the police station. They find the owner and give it to the owner later.
This sentence is not related to the above made-up story but could we write this?
He decides not to spend time getting to know her since it is going to (I think verbs like "might prove to" or "will" is not correct. Is that right?) require much of his attention and is going to take much time away from studying which he has to do now.
Top answer
Present tense is one way to present a narrative, but past tense is another good way. Your story sounds odd in present tense, since it is obviously a singular past event.
- Present tense is one way to present a narrative, but past tense is another good way.
- Your story sounds odd in present tense, since it is obviously a singular past event.
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1 Answers
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Present tense is one way to present a narrative, but past tense is another good way. Your story sounds odd in present tense, since it is obviously a singular past event.
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