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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Does Past-Tense really mean Past
Hi all!
I have questions on grammar that I would like to ask you.
I find it hard to use past-tense in my conversation with others. I am not sure when to use it.
I am comfortable in using "saw" to communicate for the things that I have seen. But I am not comfortable in using "felt".
For example do I say "Hi everyone, I felt good" or "Hi everyone, I feel good"?
"I feel good today" or "I felt good today"?
"I feel that you should not have said that to her." or "I felt that you should not have said that to her."
For example, do I say "I feel hurt when you say that" or "I feel hurt when you said that" or "I felt hurt when you said that"?
"Yes, Amanda is right" or "Yes, Amanda was right"? After all, Amanda is still Amanda. She is not "right". I have problem using "was" and "is"
Sometimes a past-tense doesn't seem "past". For example, "He died for his country. He was a good soldier." To me, he is still a good soldier so the "was", to me, did not make this good soldier a thing of the past.
"I saw him run away" or "I saw him ran away"?
And lastly, I read from a bottle label "take three capsules daily after a meal". Do I take 3 capsules for 3 meals in a day or just 3 capsules in a meal in a day?
Is there any referrence book that I can buy to understand English better?
Thanks and have a great day.
I have questions on grammar that I would like to ask you.
I find it hard to use past-tense in my conversation with others. I am not sure when to use it.
I am comfortable in using "saw" to communicate for the things that I have seen. But I am not comfortable in using "felt".
For example do I say "Hi everyone, I felt good" or "Hi everyone, I feel good"?
"I feel good today" or "I felt good today"?
"I feel that you should not have said that to her." or "I felt that you should not have said that to her."
For example, do I say "I feel hurt when you say that" or "I feel hurt when you said that" or "I felt hurt when you said that"?
"Yes, Amanda is right" or "Yes, Amanda was right"? After all, Amanda is still Amanda. She is not "right". I have problem using "was" and "is"
Sometimes a past-tense doesn't seem "past". For example, "He died for his country. He was a good soldier." To me, he is still a good soldier so the "was", to me, did not make this good soldier a thing of the past.
"I saw him run away" or "I saw him ran away"?
And lastly, I read from a bottle label "take three capsules daily after a meal". Do I take 3 capsules for 3 meals in a day or just 3 capsules in a meal in a day?
Is there any referrence book that I can buy to understand English better?
Thanks and have a great day.
Top answer
" "I feel hurt when you say that" - - now or "I felt hurt when you said that"-- in the past "Yes, Amanda is right [ now ]" or "Yes, Amanda was right [ then] " "He died for his country. " -- He is dead, therefore he 'was'. "I saw him run away" -- 'run' is an infinitive: I saw him run, I will see him run, I see him run, I have seen him run, etc.
- " "I feel hurt when you say that" - - now or "I felt hurt when you said that"-- in the past "Yes, Amanda is right [ now ]" or "Yes, Amanda was right [ then] " "He died for his country.
- " -- He is dead, therefore he 'was'.
- "I saw him run away" -- 'run' is an infinitive: I saw him run, I will see him run, I see him run, I have seen him run, etc.
- "take three capsules daily after a meal".
- Take just 3 capsules after your choice of one meal in a day One good grammar book is Michael Swan's Practical English Usage.
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4 Answers
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Say these:
"Hi everyone, I feel good"
"I feel good today"
"I feel [now] that you should not have said that to her." or "I felt [at that time] that you should not have said that to her."
"I feel hurt when you say that" -- now or "I felt hurt when
Say these:
"Hi everyone, I feel good"
"I feel good today"
"I feel [now] that you should not have said that to her." or "I felt [at that time] that you should not have said that to her."
"I feel hurt when you say that" -- now or "I felt hurt when
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Hi Mister,
but how long ago then should I use past tense?
I saw a TV singing competition, after the singer has sung, the judges said "I felt that you ..........". I think they should use "I feel that you .......". Because the singer has just performed and the judges should be feeling the same way duing the singing and just after the singing.
Please comment.
Tha
but how long ago then should I use past tense?
I saw a TV singing competition, after the singer has sung, the judges said "I felt that you ..........". I think they should use "I feel that you .......". Because the singer has just performed and the judges should be feeling the same way duing the singing and just after the singing.
Please comment.
Tha
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You're thinking too much. Or not enough. The whole event is obviously finished, so all verbs (direct quotations are an exception-- they do not change from the actual words spoken). Use this:
I saw a TV singing competition. After the singer sang, the judges said "I feel that you did well!"
The judge could just as well have said 'felt', if he wa
You're thinking too much. Or not enough. The whole event is obviously finished, so all verbs (direct quotations are an exception-- they do not change from the actual words spoken). Use this:
I saw a TV singing competition. After the singer sang, the judges said "I feel that you did well!"
The judge could just as well have said 'felt', if he wa
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