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Equilibrium8 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Past tense vers used with current actions
Hi
Some verbs often use the past tense verb for an action which is occurring now, in place of the present continuous verb.
e.g.
"I am worried about A." Instead of "I am worrying about A"
"I am headed to A." instead of "I am heading to A."
Is there a grammatical/technical term for this usage? (such as "historical present tense" for present used to describe past event.)
Some verbs often use the past tense verb for an action which is occurring now, in place of the present continuous verb.
e.g.
"I am worried about A." Instead of "I am worrying about A"
"I am headed to A." instead of "I am heading to A."
Is there a grammatical/technical term for this usage? (such as "historical present tense" for present used to describe past event.)
Top answer
Worried and headed are not past tense forms in your sentences, but they can be that in other contexts. Am is present tense and worried and headed are past participles even though they don't differ from past tense forms in appearance. Technically, they are verb forms but they are actually used in such a way that they resemble adjectives in meaning.
- Worried and headed are not past tense forms in your sentences, but they can be that in other contexts.
- Am is present tense and worried and headed are past participles even though they don't differ from past tense forms in appearance.
- Technically, they are verb forms but they are actually used in such a way that they resemble adjectives in meaning.
- Another example.
- Past tense: The long journey tired him.
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4 Answers
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Worried and headed are not past tense forms in your sentences, but they can be that in other contexts. Am is present tense and worried and headed are past participles even though they don't differ from past tense forms in appearance. Technically, they are verb forms but they are actually used in such a way that they resemble adjectives in meaning.
Anothe
Anothe
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Thanks Cool Breeze. I never thought about them being past participles. I'm probably too used to seeing past participles in specific grammar patterns.
I am wondering about your second example, "He was tired after the long journey." This example of "tired" appears directly as an adjective to me. What would make it a past participle and not an adjective?
I am wondering about your second example, "He was tired after the long journey." This example of "tired" appears directly as an adjective to me. What would make it a past participle and not an adjective?
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Equilibrium8What would make it a past participle and not an adjective?It can of course be called an adjective. It is, however, a form of the verb to tire, and therefore the term "past participle" is also justified.
CB
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