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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Past or Present
Hi All,
I have a confusing sentence that I need a bt of clarification regarding the use of past tense or present tense.
- I bought a car yesterday and it is blue . - We use 'is' because the car was blue yesterday and still is blue today.
- I saw a computer in the shop and it was expensive. - We use 'was' because it was expensive before, and even though it is likely to be expensive now we don't know. Also, this is a completed action in the past.
How abut this one:
- The waiters, who were all dressed in traditional fishermen's clothes, were very friendly and told us about the history of the restaurant whose name was The Jolly Whaler.
So, why are we using 'was'? Is it because the event happened in the past, even though we know the restaurant is still called the The Jolly Whaler?
I know this is basic, but the more I think about it, the more I become confused.
Thanks,
DJ
I have a confusing sentence that I need a bt of clarification regarding the use of past tense or present tense.
- I bought a car yesterday and it is blue . - We use 'is' because the car was blue yesterday and still is blue today.
- I saw a computer in the shop and it was expensive. - We use 'was' because it was expensive before, and even though it is likely to be expensive now we don't know. Also, this is a completed action in the past.
How abut this one:
- The waiters, who were all dressed in traditional fishermen's clothes, were very friendly and told us about the history of the restaurant whose name was The Jolly Whaler.
So, why are we using 'was'? Is it because the event happened in the past, even though we know the restaurant is still called the The Jolly Whaler?
I know this is basic, but the more I think about it, the more I become confused.
Thanks,
DJ
Top answer
Anonymous the more I think about it, the more I become confused. Yes. That's the way it usually works.
- Anonymous the more I think about it, the more I become confused.
- Yes.
- That's the way it usually works.
- Maybe you need to think about it less .
- When you have a clause that is subordinate to a clause with a past tense, you can use the past tense in the subordinate clause as well -- without any need for a philosophical debate about the choice between present and past.
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2 Answers
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Anonymousthe more I think about it, the more I become confused.Yes. That's the way it usually works. Maybe you need to think about it less.
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Well, thanks for the prompt response.
It's one of those, where the more you think about it, the more......
Anyway, I'm su
It's one of those, where the more you think about it, the more......
Anyway, I'm su0
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