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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

she's talking about or talked about

0I walked to the nurse desk and asked for a bottled water and one of the nurses told me that I couldn't take any liquid before surgery. Instead, she told me to get some rest. I walked back to my room and told my mom. Mom said, "Sounds like she knows what she['s talking about/talked about]." Which is correct and why?02br
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00Thanks in advance!0-
  

Top answer

0 What she's talking about02br 02br 00Mum said that it sounded like she knew what she was talking about02br 00 A grammar expert will tell you why02br 00but for me02br 00it's all in the present - sounds like she knows she's talking about02br 00although I think you could have02br 00Sounds like she knows what she was talking about 0-

— Optilang

  • 0 What she's talking about02br 02br 00Mum said that it sounded like she knew what she was talking about02br 00 A grammar expert will tell you why02br 00but for me02br 00it's all in the present - sounds like she knows she's talking about02br 00although I think you could have02br 00Sounds like she knows what she was talking about 0-
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12 Answers
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0 What she's talking about02br
02br
00Mum said that it sounded like she knew what she was talking about02br
00 A grammar expert will tell you why02br
00but for me02br
00it's all in the present - sounds like she knows she's talking about02br
00although I think you could have02br
00Sounds like she kn
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0I have no problem with the past tense because clearly it was something in the past. 02br
02br
00With the present tense, it sounds like the nurse is telling/has just told the person in front of his/her mother when she makes the comment. 050010id6
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0 But I don't think you can have "Sounds like she knows what she talked about" in this context - doesn't sound right to me 0-
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0Mom said, "Sounds like she knows 01b00what she's talking about02b00." 02br
02br
00'She knows what she is talking about' means 'She knows what you have to do.' It doesn't imply that your mother was near the nurse when she told you what you should do.0-
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0This is confusing. Let's say X tell you something and when you get home, you tell your sister, "Mr.X told me about or tells me about", which is correct?02br
02br
00I would choose the past tense. The same reasoning for my original.0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10New2grammar12cite10Let's say X tell you something and when you get home, you tell your sister, "Mr.X told me about 11del11i10or tells me12i10 about"12del10, which is correct?12br
12br
10I would choose the past tense. The same reasoning for my original.12br
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0 In your first example Mr X is the Nurse. You are you. and Mum is your sister02br
00All a bit strange, but there you have it 0-
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0Maybe the purpose of my second example isn't clear. I was just trying to emphasize the fact that the conversation took place in the past. So when referring to the past exchanges, we should use the past tense. Similarly, the act of the nurse telling the patient was in the past so when one refers to the act, logically, the past tense should be used like "My dog bit me" and not" My dog is biting m
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0 Yes I see02br
00But you proposed - sounds like she knows what she talked about - and this doesn't work for me.02br
00Sounds like she knew what she was talking about -ok02br
00Sounds like she knows what she is talking about - ok02br
00We wouldn't say - Sounds like she is knowing what she talked about.02br
00If I give a presentation at
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0I walked to the nurse desk and asked for a bottled water and one of the nurses told me that I couldn't take any liquid before surgery. Instead, she told me to get some rest. I walked back to my room and told my mom. 01b00Mom said02b00, "01b00Sounds like she knows what she's talking about02b00." 02br
02br
00You're using direct sp
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