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Yoong Liat Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
is/are
About five minutes later, she goes back to her school. She tells one of the teachers, Miss Wong, that her mother has not come yet. She asks Rosalind for her mother’s mobile phone number. She then telephones her. Rosalind’s mother tells Miss Wong that she is late because there is/was a jam caused by a traffic accident. She says that she will be at the bus stop very soon.
Should 'is' or 'was' be used? It there are errors in the passage, please let me know.
Many thanks.
Should 'is' or 'was' be used? It there are errors in the passage, please let me know.
Many thanks.
Top answer
I would say was . She is late at 3 o'clock because there was a jam caused by a traffic accident at 2 o'clock. I would consider the possible fact that the traffic jam is still in progress at 3 o'clock absolutely irrelevant to the story.
- I would say was .
- She is late at 3 o'clock because there was a jam caused by a traffic accident at 2 o'clock.
- I would consider the possible fact that the traffic jam is still in progress at 3 o'clock absolutely irrelevant to the story.
- On the other hand, should the sentence be: ...
- that she will be late (at 4 o'clock) because there is a jam ...
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3 Answers
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I would say was. She is late at 3 o'clock because there was a jam caused by a traffic accident at 2 o'clock.
I would consider the possible fact that the traffic jam is still in progress at 3 o'clock absolutely irrelevant to the story.
On the other hand, should the sentence be:
... that she will be late (at 4 o'clock) because there is a jam ... (at 3 o
I would consider the possible fact that the traffic jam is still in progress at 3 o'clock absolutely irrelevant to the story.
On the other hand, should the sentence be:
... that she will be late (at 4 o'clock) because there is a jam ... (at 3 o
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Another thing that confuses me is the pronoun 'she'.
About five minutes later, she(refers to Rosalind) goes back to her school. She(refers to Rosalind) tells one of the teachers, Miss Wong, that her mother has not come yet.SheMiss Wong(should this be changed to Miss Wong to clarify the sudde
About five minutes later, she(refers to Rosalind) goes back to her school. She(refers to Rosalind) tells one of the teachers, Miss Wong, that her mother has not come yet.
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Thanks, CJ.
It is harder to write something in the present tense because sometimes the verb has to be in the past tense.
It is harder to write something in the present tense because sometimes the verb has to be in the past tense.
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