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Musicgold Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Did you ever...
Hi,
The following sentences are from a stand-up comedy show. However they are also commonly heard in daily conversations.
I don’t understand how the tense in such sentences is changed. For example, in #1 and 2, the first clause is in past and the second clause in present.
1. Did you ever go to shake hands with a guy and he doesn’t notice?
2. Did you ever look at someone else’s cart and say, “Look at the kind of food they eat!”?
3. Did you ever belched and almost puked?
Thank you,
MG.
The following sentences are from a stand-up comedy show. However they are also commonly heard in daily conversations.
I don’t understand how the tense in such sentences is changed. For example, in #1 and 2, the first clause is in past and the second clause in present.
1. Did you ever go to shake hands with a guy and he doesn’t notice?
2. Did you ever look at someone else’s cart and say, “Look at the kind of food they eat!”?
3. Did you ever belched and almost puked?
Thank you,
MG.
Top answer
The first two are common enough. ': 1. Did you ever ( go to shake hands with a guy and he doesn’t notice?
- The first two are common enough.
- ': 1.
- Did you ever ( go to shake hands with a guy and he doesn’t notice?
- ) 2.
- ”?
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5 Answers
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The first two are common enough. Conceptually, the whole predicate is being considered in 'Did you ever?':
1. Did you ever (go to shake hands with a guy and he doesn’t notice?)
2. Did you ever (look at someone else’s cart and say, “Look at the kind of food they eat!”?)
1. Did you ever (go to shake hands with a guy and he doesn’t notice?)
2. Did you ever (look at someone else’s cart and say, “Look at the kind of food they eat!”?)
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Thanks MM.
#3 is mis-transcribed. That is not what was said.
Which one of the following forms is better?
3a. Did you ever belch and almost puked?
3b. Did you ever belch and almost puke?
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Just for posterity, let's say "better" grammatically. There's certainly no difference in terms of social acceptance!
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