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Eunkum Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

past tense

Is the use of past tense (coped, could) okay?

Participant 1 discussed how employees coped with stress and how they could overcome stress in the work environment.
  

Top answer

Assuming you mean that they did (eventually) overcome stress, you should say this: Participant 1 discussed how employees coped with stress and how they were able to overcome stress in the work environment. However, it is not very clear to me whether "in the work environment" seeming to apply to only the second part is an intentional contrast or an accident of poor wording. Perhaps you could say this: Participant 1 discussed how employees were able to cope with and overcome stress in the work environment.

— GPY

  • Assuming you mean that they did (eventually) overcome stress, you should say this: Participant 1 discussed how employees coped with stress and how they were able to overcome stress in the work environment.
  • However, it is not very clear to me whether "in the work environment" seeming to apply to only the second part is an intentional contrast or an accident of poor wording.
  • Perhaps you could say this: Participant 1 discussed how employees were able to cope with and overcome stress in the work environment.
  • or simply: Participant 1 discussed how employees were able to overcome stress in the work environment.
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1 Answers
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Assuming you mean that they did (eventually) overcome stress, you should say this:

Participant 1 discussed how employees coped with stress and how they were able to overcome stress in the work environment.

However, it is not very clear to me whether "in the work environment" seeming to apply to only the second part is an intentional contrast or an accident o
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