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New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

present tense

We talked for another couple minutes. By the time I hung up, he didn't sound mad anymore, but I could barely move. The effort to win him back, to find the right words not only to convince him that I hadn't overlooked him but also to reassure him that I was appropriately grateful and enthusiastic had drained the last reserves of my energy. I don't remember getting into the car or the ride home or whether or not I said hello to John in the lobby of my building. Besides a bone-deep exhaustion that hurt so much it almost felt good, the only thing I remember feeling at all was relief that Lily's door was shut and no light peeked out from under it.

Why the underlined words are in the present tense while the passage is in the past tense?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Hi, He's talking about past events, but in those two parts he is talking about what he remembers in the present. eg I saw a car accident 20 years ago. I do not remember the colour of the cars.

— Clive

  • Hi, He's talking about past events, but in those two parts he is talking about what he remembers in the present.
  • eg I saw a car accident 20 years ago.
  • I do not remember the colour of the cars.
  • Best wishes, Clive
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2 Answers
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Hi,

He's talking about past events, but in those two parts he is talking about what he remembers in the present.

eg I saw a car accident 20 years ago. I do not remember the colour of the cars.

Best wishes, Clive
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Thanks, Clive. One quick question.

I saw a car accident 20 years ago. I do not remember the colour(s) of the cars.

Is 'colour' a mass noun or abstract noun? Logically, there should be more than one colour since there are more than one car.
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