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Tinanam0102 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Present tense for Narration

Hi teachers,
Quoted from a site:
A policeman stops a man who is driving down the freeway in a truck that was filled with swords. He asks the driver “What are you doing with all these swords?” The man answers “I am a sword swallower in the Circus Vegas. So, he shows this to the policeman by putting a sword down his throat. Just then, a couple drives by and the wife says to her husband, “Slow down Harry! Look what that officer is making that guy do because he was speeding”

1. When present tense is used, shouldn't 'was filled with' be 'is filled with'?

2. Can 'drives by' be replaced by 'is driving by'?

3. If present tense is used in narration, are the questions and answers going to be in present tense too? Why does the policeman stop the man? Because he was speeding or he is speeding?

Thanks
TN
  

Top answer

1. No, the swords were put in the truck before he started driving. 2.

— AlpheccaStars

  • 1.
  • No, the swords were put in the truck before he started driving.
  • 2.
  • No, because " just then" is a point in time.
  • 3.
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6 Answers
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1. When present tense is used, shouldn't 'was filled with' be 'is filled with'?No, the swords were put in the truck before he started driving. 2. Can 'drives by' be replaced by 'is driving by'?No, because " just then" is a point in time. 3. Because he was speeding, before the policeman stops him.
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Hi AlpheccaStars,

Thanks for your explanation.

1. In present tense narration, would a pattern like this emerge?
He admits he'd not felt comfortable in the house (but now he's sitting down having conversation in the house)
2. Can we rephrase it to He admits he didn't feel comfortable in the house or He admits he felt uncomfortable in the house?
Thanks
TN
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tinanam01021. In present tense narration, would a pattern like this emerge? He admits he'd not felt comfortable in the house (but now he's sitting down having conversation in the house)
yes.
tinanam01022. Can we rephrase it to He admits he didn't feel comfortable in the house or He admits he felt uncomfortable in the house?Thanks
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Hi AlpheccaStars,

I'm sorry I forgot to ask if the present perfect was correct.

1. He admits he has not felt comfortable in the house.
2. Does 'he'd not felt ....house' mean he is comfortable now?
3. Does 'he didn't feel...house' mean he is comfortable now?
Thanks
TN
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1. He admits he has not felt comfortable in the house. ok
2. Does 'he'd not felt ....house' mean he is comfortable now? no
3. Does 'he didn't feel...house' mean he is comfortable now? no
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Hi AlpheccaStars,

Thanks for your help on this topic.
Have a great day.
TN
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