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PreciousJones Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Story telling backshift
This was when I first moved to New York City. The company bus drops me off at my apartment complex and I start walking towards my place. I step into the elevator and I see this guy. He was or he's just standing there idly, so I decide to strike up a conversation.
Should I use he was or he is in this situation? I want to make the story more catching like it's happening in the present, but for some reason the present tense (he's just standing there) doesn't sound right.
Your expertise would be nice.
Thank you.
Should I use he was or he is in this situation? I want to make the story more catching like it's happening in the present, but for some reason the present tense (he's just standing there) doesn't sound right.
Your expertise would be nice.
Thank you.
Top answer
Use he's. A sudden shift to the past for just one verb would be very unnatural.
- Use he's.
- A sudden shift to the past for just one verb would be very unnatural.
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1 Answers
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Use he's. A sudden shift to the past for just one verb would be very unnatural.
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