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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Is/was followed by past tense

Hey folks,

how is "This is the machine that was not working" different from "This was the machine that was not working"? do the convey the same meaning?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

e. the two interlocutors looking at the machine), either is likely to be uttered, and with the same meaning. The second case is a sort of 'inverted' regression, where the verb in the main clause regresses with that in the relative clause.

— Mister Micawber

  • e.
  • the two interlocutors looking at the machine), either is likely to be uttered, and with the same meaning.
  • The second case is a sort of 'inverted' regression, where the verb in the main clause regresses with that in the relative clause.
  • It is common in speech.
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5 Answers
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In context (i.e. the two interlocutors looking at the machine), either is likely to be uttered, and with the same meaning. The second case is a sort of 'inverted' regression, where the verb in the main clause regresses with that in the relative clause. It is common in speech.
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Quick question sir!

can you help me identify the main clause and the subordinate in that sentence?

Technically, "this" would be the relative pronoun, "is" would be the verb, and "the machine" would be the subject. So, is the first part a relative clause?

In the second, would "that" act as the subject? Which is the verb? can both of them be relative clauses? (relative cl
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This is the machine-- main clause
that was not working-- subordinate clause

'This' is not a relative pronoun; it is a demonstrative pronoun.
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That helps Emotion: smile Thanks a lot!
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