0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Only

Hello,

Is this correct?

John was angry, so it was only fair that he attacked (or is it attack?) James.

Which is right here: attack or attacked?

Thanks,
  

Top answer

" But I don't understand how being angry is justification for attacking someone.

— BarbaraPA

  • " But I don't understand how being angry is justification for attacking someone.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

8 Answers
0
The word is "attacked." But I don't understand how being angry is justification for attacking someone.
0
0
Thanks, GG, I simply made that up in a hurry. I only wanted to understand how it worked in both tenses. I believe in present tense, it would be like this: John's angry, so it's only fair he attack (rather than attacks) James.
0
0
This sentence is so strange that I am struggling to suggest how to write it. Let's try other sentences.

Present
She works so hard at her skating it's only fair she receive the top prize.

Present perfect
She has hurt her arm very badly, so it's only natural that she [should] cry.

Simple past
He worked so hard that it's only fair that he s
0
0
Grammar GeekHe worked so hard that it's only fair that he should have received the recognition. -- I'd like other opinions on this. It sounds natural to me, but I'm not sure I can justify the case. CJ??
I think that one is fine. Hard work in the past and an implied "just" in the receipt of recognition. (for example)
0
0
Can 'it's' also be used for 'it was', as in the above examples? Also in simple past, should it not always be 'should have' instead of 'should'? Should is only correct in present.
0
0
"It's" is an abbreviation for "it is" or "it has".

Should is a modal verb it is often used to refer to the past by using “Should have" which is the perfect tense. It can be used without “have” in simple past tense phrases but it is rarely seen this way :-
0
0
I assumed 'should' as a modal verb is only used in present and never in the past tense. Also if it's is it is, how does it explain GG's sentence where past and present tenses are both there?
0
0
AnonymousI assumed 'should' as a modal verb is only used in present and never in the past tense
Should can be used in the past tense.

I thought I should write and explain.
It was important that someone should call the fire brigade.
She knew that we should like to be alone.
AnonymousAlso if it's is it is, how does it ex
0

Related Questions