grammar

Question

The boys (are Or were) in the shop just now.My mother (was or is) baking a cake this morning.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

The boys are in the shop just now. = They are there at the moment.
The boys were in the shop just now. = They were there a moment ago.

Laborious · Answer

The first sentence isn't very natural with 'are'. I won't say that with 'are'; however 'were' is perfectly acceptable there. So, only 'The boys were here just now' is correct to me.

Of your second sentence, both 'is baking' and 'was baking' are possible. If you say 'my mother was baking a cake this morning' in the middle of the morning, the action has already begun and is still in progress, still continuing, though your mother may or may not be doing that exactly at the moment/time of speaking. On the other hand, if you say that early in the morning, the action may or may not have begun before your speaking about it. In addition, 'My mother is baking a cake this morning' suggests that this is a new situation or a change.

Consider the following sentences, for instance:
- My sister bakes a cake every morning.
- My mother is baking a cake this morning.

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousMy mother (was or is) baking a cake this morning.

My mother is baking a cake this morning may equally express the future action, i.e. My mother is going to bake a cake this morning.

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