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Son James Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

For the tense of Present Participle?

Please look at this sentence.

" Passengers should be careful when opening the overhead luggage bins as
contents may have shifted during travel."

For the clause that "as contents may have shifted during travel".

I think I've seen such sentences so many times,which have used present participle tense even though it looks indicating the time of future.

[Q1] Why do writer use the present participle there? For emphasizing it should shift if not so?

[Q2] Can be the following clauses replaced there?

a) as contents may shift during travel?
b) as contents should shift during travel?
c) as contents can shift during travel?

Anyway, can I sometimes express the time of future or possibility by the tense of present participle? Definitely it will depend on its context. Can't I?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Son James [Q1] Why do writer use the present participle there? For emphasizing it should shift if not so? Son James "as contents may have shifted during travel".

— Avangi

  • Son James [Q1] Why do writer use the present participle there?
  • For emphasizing it should shift if not so?
  • Son James "as contents may have shifted during travel".
  • "May have shifted" is not really a present participle.
  • It's present perfect tense with a modal auxiliary.
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7 Answers
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Son James[Q1] Why do writer use the present participle there? For emphasizing it should shift if not so?
Son James"as contents may have shifted during travel".
"May have shifted" is not really a present participle. It's present perfect tense with a modal auxiliary.

The time period for the present perfect is the ve
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Son James[Q1] Why do writer use the present participle there? For emphasizing it should shift if not so?
The present participle in your sentence is 'opening'; they do not have tense, but only reflect the tense of the verb to which they are subordinated (here, 'should be'). Compare: I saw him while opening the door. I will see him while opening the door.
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There appears to be some confusion here. 'Opening' is a present participle. There is no present participle in 'may have shifted'.

ps. (later) - I see Mr M and Avangi got there first.
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Ah. Good evening, gentlemen.
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In fact, I've made a big mistake. I had to write as "the tense of present perfect",not "the tense of present participle". I'm sorry about that.
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Thank you so much for your teachings,Mr.Micawber. Emotion: embarrassed
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Your words is right. I had a confusion. I thought I was typing as "present perfect", but now I've found I typed as "present participle". A big mistake! I'm sorry for that and thank you for your answer,Mr.Fivejedjon.
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