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Johnson13 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
since the collapse of the last dynasty, we have had grammarians who will/would write grammar books on the Chinese language for
A sentence: Since the collapse of the last dynasty, we have had grammarians who will/would write grammar books on the Chinese language for foreign learners.
In the above sentence, it seems both are correct, though WILL seems more OK.
WILL looks acceptable because in agreement with the PRESENT perfect tense HAVE HAD, the PRESENT WILL, instead of the PAST WOULD should be usd.
WOULD looks acceptable because the sentence relates to a period from 1911 to 2013, which is anything but present, so the PAST WOULD, instead of the PRESENT WILL, should be used.
Could you correct me?Another sentence is of exactly the same type: I've heard several times they say/said it's not an easy job.
SAY and SAID; which should be used? Thanks.
In the above sentence, it seems both are correct, though WILL seems more OK.
WILL looks acceptable because in agreement with the PRESENT perfect tense HAVE HAD, the PRESENT WILL, instead of the PAST WOULD should be usd.
WOULD looks acceptable because the sentence relates to a period from 1911 to 2013, which is anything but present, so the PAST WOULD, instead of the PRESENT WILL, should be used.
Could you correct me?Another sentence is of exactly the same type: I've heard several times they say/said it's not an easy job.
SAY and SAID; which should be used? Thanks.
Top answer
Johnson13 In the above sentence, it seems both are correct, though WILL seems more OK. Neither seems good to me; both are awkward and murky in intent. Since the collapse of the last dynasty, we have had grammarians writing grammar books on the Chinese language for foreign learners .
- Johnson13 In the above sentence, it seems both are correct, though WILL seems more OK.
- Neither seems good to me; both are awkward and murky in intent.
- Since the collapse of the last dynasty, we have had grammarians writing grammar books on the Chinese language for foreign learners .
- SAY and SAID; which should be used?
- I don't see that this is the 'same type' at all.
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8 Answers
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Johnson13In the above sentence, it seems both are correct, though WILL seems more OK.Neither seems good to me; both are awkward and murky in intent.
Since the collapse of the last dynasty, we have had grammarians writing grammar books on the Chinese language for foreign learners.
Johnson13Another sentence is of e
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Thanks.
1. Does REGRESS mean BACKSHIFT?
2. I don't think 'She's the greatest player who ever lived.' is a happy sentence, because IS does not go well with LIVED; does it have the same problem as the DYNASTY one?
1. Does REGRESS mean BACKSHIFT?
2. I don't think 'She's the greatest player who ever lived.' is a happy sentence, because IS does not go well with LIVED; does it have the same problem as the DYNASTY one?
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As a speaker of BrE, I would say:
I don't think she's (is) the greatest player who's (has) ever lived.
I don't think she's (is) the greatest player who's (has) ever lived.
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Thanks.
Does your sentence necessarily mean the person in question is still alive?
Does your sentence necessarily mean the person in question is still alive?
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Johnson13Thanks.Does your sentence necessarily mean the person in question is still alive?Not necessarily, but I think there's a reasonable presumption she still is.
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Thanks all.
MM says the tense of the verb after a present-perfect verb depends on whether the action still obtains, but in questions certainly cannot happen, otherwise I wouldn't have to ask questions.
context: An American exchange student knows Mandarin. I want to know whether he has been taught by someone.
Which verb should I use: have there been any people who teach/t
MM says the tense of the verb after a present-perfect verb depends on whether the action still obtains, but in questions certainly cannot happen, otherwise I wouldn't have to ask questions.
context: An American exchange student knows Mandarin. I want to know whether he has been taught by someone.
Which verb should I use: have there been any people who teach/t
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Johnson13 I want to know whether he has been taught by someone.Which verb should I use: have there been any people who teach/taught you?You are asking about past teaching; there is no concern about the present. Use 'taught'.
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