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MarvinTheMartian Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Help! I'm "tense-challenged"!
Hi,
All of a sudden, I'm having trouble combining certain tenses. Case in point:
1. "I tend to ruminate. That is, when someone says something unpleasant to me, I will remember what they said long after they stop talking."
2. "I tend to ruminate. That is, when someone says something unpleasant to me, I will remember what they said long after they stopped talking."
3. "I tend to ruminate. That is, when someone says something unpleasant to me, I will remember what they say long after they stop talking."
For the record, no. 1 was my first choice... Then I started second-guessing myself. Could someone help me here?
Here's a similar problem I've been racking my brain on:
1. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you said."
2. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you will have said."
3. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you will say."
4. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you say."
Of all these sentences, only the first one sounds natural to me, which is strange since it also seems to be the least grammatical. Would someone please help me sort this out?
All of a sudden, I'm having trouble combining certain tenses. Case in point:
1. "I tend to ruminate. That is, when someone says something unpleasant to me, I will remember what they said long after they stop talking."
2. "I tend to ruminate. That is, when someone says something unpleasant to me, I will remember what they said long after they stopped talking."
3. "I tend to ruminate. That is, when someone says something unpleasant to me, I will remember what they say long after they stop talking."
For the record, no. 1 was my first choice... Then I started second-guessing myself. Could someone help me here?
Here's a similar problem I've been racking my brain on:
1. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you said."
2. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you will have said."
3. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you will say."
4. "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you say."
Of all these sentences, only the first one sounds natural to me, which is strange since it also seems to be the least grammatical. Would someone please help me sort this out?
Top answer
to make it a bit more confusing - I wonder in the second example, can we say "It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you HAVE SAID" ? thanks
- to make it a bit more confusing - I wonder in the second example, can we say "It's no use reading me the directions.
- By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you HAVE SAID" ?
- thanks
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4 Answers
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to make it a bit more confusing -
I wonder in the second example, can we say
"It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you HAVE SAID" ?
thanks
I wonder in the second example, can we say
"It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you HAVE SAID" ?
thanks
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I tend to ruminate. That is, when someone says something unpleasant to me, I will remember what they {say / said} long after they {stop / have stopped} talking.
It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you (have) said.
CJ
{ } -- coordinated choices -- first with first; second with second.
( ) -- optional
It's no use reading me the directions. By the time you leave, I won't remember anything you (have) said.
CJ
{ } -- coordinated choices -- first with first; second with second.
( ) -- optional
00
Hi,
This is related to tenses too. What is the difference? Thank you.
Q: Don't you know who I am?
A: I know who you are but don't know where you come/came from.
This is related to tenses too. What is the difference? Thank you.
Q: Don't you know who I am?
A: I know who you are but don't know where you come/came from.
00
.
Where one comes from (present tense) normally refers to one's origin, one's home town or home country.
Where one came from (past tense) normally refers to one's previous location.
Where one comes from (present tense) normally refers to one's origin, one's home town or home country.
Where one came from (past tense) normally refers to one's previous location.
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