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BlackBlitz Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Present perfect
The tense "present perfect" refers to the past. Then why is it considered present?
"I should have studied"
This is present perfect. "The studying" would be past, while the the "should" modal is present.
"He asked me how long she should had/have stayed".
Which one is correct? When your main clause is past your subordinate clause should be past. I think "should had stayed"
is correct. But it sounds awkward.. is it correct? If not, tell me why. Thanks
"I should have studied"
This is present perfect. "The studying" would be past, while the the "should" modal is present.
"He asked me how long she should had/have stayed".
Which one is correct? When your main clause is past your subordinate clause should be past. I think "should had stayed"
is correct. But it sounds awkward.. is it correct? If not, tell me why. Thanks
Top answer
Q1: Present perfect has 2 connections with "present" First, it implies something is the past that is of interest in the present. For example something that just completed. " Q2: "have stayed" is correct- it was of current interest in the time frame of "he asked".
- Q1: Present perfect has 2 connections with "present" First, it implies something is the past that is of interest in the present.
- For example something that just completed.
- " Q2: "have stayed" is correct- it was of current interest in the time frame of "he asked".
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5 Answers
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Q1: Present perfect has 2 connections with "present"
First, it implies something is the past that is of interest in the present. For example something that just completed.
Second, it uses the present tense of "have."
Q2: "have stayed" is correct- it was of current interest in the time frame of "he asked".
.
First, it implies something is the past that is of interest in the present. For example something that just completed.
Second, it uses the present tense of "have."
Q2: "have stayed" is correct- it was of current interest in the time frame of "he asked".
.
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Can you expand a little, please?
Because "asked" is simple past whereas "have stayed" is present perfect..
Again, if the main clause is in past, the so does the subordinate clause. =S
Because "asked" is simple past whereas "have stayed" is present perfect..
Again, if the main clause is in past, the so does the subordinate clause. =S
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"He asked me how long she should have stayed".
This is reported speech, that is, a sentence saying what someone else has said. Here is the same sentence in direct speech (like a conversation).
He asked me, "How long should she have stayed?"
Now, let's go back to that time when he asked this question. Pretend we are at that time in the past. His friend was not f
This is reported speech, that is, a sentence saying what someone else has said. Here is the same sentence in direct speech (like a conversation).
He asked me, "How long should she have stayed?"
Now, let's go back to that time when he asked this question. Pretend we are at that time in the past. His friend was not f
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Yes, but even in report speech the verbs change tenses.
"He asks her if she will marry him."
"He asked if she would marry him".
"He asks her if she will marry him."
"He asked if she would marry him".
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Would is also used in the present tense for a polite request.
He asks her, "Would you marry me?" (direct speech)
He asks her if she would marry him. (reported speech)
He asked her, "Would you marry me?" (direct speech)
He asked her if she would marry him. (reported speech)
He asks her, "Would you marry me?" (direct speech)
He asks her if she would marry him. (reported speech)
He asked her, "Would you marry me?" (direct speech)
He asked her if she would marry him. (reported speech)
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