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Sb70012 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Since/Because I have turned 18 ....

1. Since/Because I had turned 18, they tried to give me driving lessons.
2. Since/Because I have turned 18, they are trying to give me driving lessons.
3. Since/Because I had turned 18, they were trying to give me driving lessons.
4. Since/Because I have turned 18, they try to give me driving lessons.

Hello,
Once a native English speaker told me that #4 is incorrect and I can not use [try].
But why? Do you agree with him? Why does [tried] work but [try] does not?
(I have asked this in other forums too but have not received a good answer.)

Thank you
  

Top answer

But why? Do you agree with him? It is not incorrect; it is just an odd circumstance.

— Mister Micawber

  • But why?
  • Do you agree with him?
  • It is not incorrect; it is just an odd circumstance.
  • sb70012 hy does [tried] work but [try] does not?
  • 'Tried' means the past only, but 'try' in this form usually means in any time, past.
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5 Answers
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sb70012Once a native English speaker told me that #4 is incorrect and I can not use [try].But why? Do you agree with him?
It is not incorrect; it is just an odd circumstance.
sb70012hy does [tried] work but [try] does not?
'Tried' means the past only, but 'try' in this form usually means in any time, past. present or future
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Mister Micawber 'try' in this form usually means in any time, past. present or future—that is why it is odd.
Thanks for answering but from what aspect you say this? It's clear that [try] is present tense.
Maybe I don't understand this part.
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sb70012t's clear that [try] is present tense.
That is the name of the form, but it does not always refer to present time only. Simple present more commonly refers to any time:

Water boils at 100°C. When I eat strawberries, I get hives.

It is also extremely common for the future: I'll see you after I
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What if I change sentence number 4 to another sentence and use an action verb (play) in it?

4. Since/Because I have turned 18, they try to give me driving lessons.

Changed to ==> Since/Because I have turned 18, they play
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sb70012Is the tense awkward again?
I never said your sentence was awkward; it is merely odd without more context—and that will be true with most any active verb. Use a verb that is usually in simple present for 'now':

Since/Because I have turned 18, they know I'm smarter.
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