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Hktrader Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Should the writer use present tense in this sentence?

Hi, everyone, I read an article on newspaper and fall into a labyrinth of tense.
Please give me a hand.

extraction from the article:
Former University of Hong Kong professor Vicki Oi started the non-profit organization in 2003 as she wanted to continue sharing her love for English literature with students after she retired.

My question is:
why the writer used past tense (wanted) but not present tense over there?

My point of view is that, using present tense can state the fact that the professor Vicki has the ambition to her work form time to time. but now, in the article, using the past tense will make the reader confussed that she just wanted to do her work in 2003 but no ideas if she is still continue to the present(2012).

Is that I make any mistake on comprehening the usage of past tense?

Thanks
  

Top answer

Former University of Hong Kong professor Vicki Oi started the non-profit organization in 2003 as she wanted to continue sharing her love for English literature with students after she retired. The past tense is correct here. In 2003, she wanted this.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Former University of Hong Kong professor Vicki Oi started the non-profit organization in 2003 as she wanted to continue sharing her love for English literature with students after she retired.
  • The past tense is correct here.
  • In 2003, she wanted this.
  • It occurred in the past.
  • That being said, it does not imply that she has changed what she wants now!
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6 Answers
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Former University of Hong Kong professor Vicki Oi started the non-profit organization in 2003 as she wanted to continue sharing her love for English literature with students after she retired.

The past tense is correct here. In 2003, she wanted this. It occurred in the past. That being said, it does not imply that she has changed what she wants now!
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AlpheccaStarsFormer University of Hong Kong professor Vicki Oi started the non-profit organization in 2003 as she wanted to continue sharing her love for English literature with students after she retired.The past tense is correct here. In 2003, she wanted this. It occurred in the past. That being said, it does not imply that she has changed what she wants now!
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hktraderIf the writer use past tense (wanted) here, Isn't that give us a impression that she wanted that in 2003 but not currently want?
No. In the case of something that was true in the past, we sometimes can, and sometimes cannot tell what is true in the present.

Spot was my favorite dog. (Implies that he is no longer my favorite.)
Sandy isn't
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AlpheccaStars hktraderIf the writer use past tense (wanted) here, Isn't that give us a impression that she wanted that in 2003 but not currently want?No. In the case of something that was true in the past, we sometimes can, and sometimes cannot tell what is true in the present. Spot was my favorite dog. (Implies that he is no longer my favorite.)Sandy isn't at school toda
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The present perfect can be used for that situation:

Sandy is not at school today. She has been ill since yesterday when she left school.

It is not natural to combine the present and past in a compound verb.

X She feels ill and left early yesterday.

Make two independent clauses:
She went h
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