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Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Past simple-backshifting
A: You're so bad at this!
B: I never claimed I was good.
Do native speakers respond with simple past in such cases because they are referring to the time before the sentence was uttered? That's something like backshifting, right?
Thank you!
B: I never claimed I was good.
Do native speakers respond with simple past in such cases because they are referring to the time before the sentence was uttered? That's something like backshifting, right?
Thank you!
Top answer
" Why do you smell so bad? (reply) Because I didn't take a shower! The speaker is truly describing something in the past in connection with something in the present.
- " Why do you smell so bad?
- (reply) Because I didn't take a shower!
- The speaker is truly describing something in the past in connection with something in the present.
- " Of course B's reply, "I never claimed I was good" can be delivered in a self-deprecating style, in a contentious style, or in a friendly, joking style.
- Rgdz, - A.
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9 Answers
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I wouldn't call it "like backshifting."
Why do you smell so bad? (reply) Because I didn't take a shower!
The speaker is truly describing something in the past in connection with something in the present.
The person could also choose to say, "I'm not claiming I'm good at it!" / "I don't claim to be good at it!"
I thin
Why do you smell so bad? (reply) Because I didn't take a shower!
The speaker is truly describing something in the past in connection with something in the present.
The person could also choose to say, "I'm not claiming I'm good at it!" / "I don't claim to be good at it!"
I thin
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Katherine never compelled me. I knew everything. It was real for me.
The speaker was referring to an action that took place 100 years ago. He wasn't compelled at the time when he was uttering sentence, either. So, he could've said "Katherine has never compelled me.".
Why do you think he chose past simple? Is it because he was referring to something that happened in the past?
The speaker was referring to an action that took place 100 years ago. He wasn't compelled at the time when he was uttering sentence, either. So, he could've said "Katherine has never compelled me.".
Why do you think he chose past simple? Is it because he was referring to something that happened in the past?
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Hi,
If you are referring to a particular point in the past (eg Sept/30/1912), just use Simple Past..
Clive
If you are referring to a particular point in the past (eg Sept/30/1912), just use Simple Past..
Clive
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Hi,
First, you need to understand the meaning of the sentence:
I never claimed I was good at this. = At no time did I claim I was good at this.
Never -- not at any time.
The use of simple past doesn't have to do with backshifting. Speaker B just wanted to make it clear
to speaker A that they never claimed to be experts at what was discu
First, you need to understand the meaning of the sentence:
I never claimed I was good at this. = At no time did I claim I was good at this.
Never -- not at any time.
The use of simple past doesn't have to do with backshifting. Speaker B just wanted to make it clear
to speaker A that they never claimed to be experts at what was discu
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whatchadoinKatherine never compelled me. I knew everything. It was real for me.The speaker was referring to an action that took place 100 years ago.This sounds to me like habitual behavior. Simple present, present progressive, simple past, and several other tenses are possible.
The best reason for choosing simple past would be to indicate that the
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I think I understand this even though I cannot explain it.
A: Why did you say I didn't love you?
B: I never said that!
Why is simple past better than present perfect here? I'd use simple past because we're talking about something that clearly happened in the past and has no relevance to the present. Present perfect is also possible, isn't it?
Thank you.
A: Why did you say I didn't love you?
B: I never said that!
Why is simple past better than present perfect here? I'd use simple past because we're talking about something that clearly happened in the past and has no relevance to the present. Present perfect is also possible, isn't it?
Thank you.
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Yes, you can use present perfect.
But "never" means "never," as Regards has said.
It's a strange word. In a sense, it just closes the door. It doesn't go on and on.
I don't personally like that "has no relevance to the present" rule. It seems open to interpretation.
I have never said that. Over a period of time I have continually refrained from saying it
But "never" means "never," as Regards has said.
It's a strange word. In a sense, it just closes the door. It doesn't go on and on.
I don't personally like that "has no relevance to the present" rule. It seems open to interpretation.
I have never said that. Over a period of time I have continually refrained from saying it
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I still don't understand.
I never said that. - Why? Why do native speakers use this one when they still haven't said something? Is that grammatically incorrect?
A: Why did you tell me that yesterday?
B: I never told you before because...
Is this correct?
I never said that. - Why? Why do native speakers use this one when they still haven't said something? Is that grammatically incorrect?
A: Why did you tell me that yesterday?
B: I never told you before because...
Is this correct?
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This usage is fine. "That" refers to something in prior context.
A: I spent three years in prison when I was younger.
B: I wish you had told me that before.
The pronoun "that" is direct object of the verb "had told."
A: I spent three years in prison when I was younger.
B: I wish you had told me that before.
The pronoun "that" is direct object of the verb "had told."
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