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Vsuresh Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Tense
Hi
Please tell me if the tenses have been used correctly in the context.
Eric and Ilsa are brother and sister. They (grow) grew (1) up together in the city that used to be known as West Berlin, in the former West Germany. Eric (move) had moved/moved (2) to the United States decades ago, before the eastern and western parts of both Berlin and Germany were reunited in 1990. Ilsa and her family (visit) visited(3) Eric and his family last year. llsa's Family (fly)had flown(4) from Berlin to Detroit for the visit. Although the children (never, meet) had never met(5) before, except through e-mail, the families (have) had (6) a great time together. Every day for a week, the adults and the children (play)were playing (7), talking, and eating together. One day, they (cook) cooked (8) some German recipes that (be) had been (9) in the family for generations. For years, Ilsa (save) had been saving (10) them and treasuring them in a box their mother (give) gave(11) her just before she (die)died (12). One of their mother's favorites (be) had been(13) a dessert called Apple Kuchen. One night after everyone else (already, go) had already gone (14) to bed, Eric and Ilsa (quietly, sit) were quietly sitting(15) and talking. "What have you (miss) missed(16) most about Berlin?" Ilsa wanted to know. Eric (pause) paused(17), then answered, "Mostly, I miss living in a city with such wonderful landmarks. The kids and I (look) had been looking (18) at some books about Berlin and Germany for a while before you and your family (arrive) arrived (19). We (discuss) were discussing(20) the Brandenburg Gate when Franz interrupted to ask why its image (use) was being used(21) as a design on some of the coins back when Germany had converted its money to euros." "What (do) did (22) you tell him?" Ilsa asked. "I (say) said (23) that I (not, be)am not sure(24) sure," answered Eric, “but that I (think) think(25) it was because the gate (become) had become (26) a symbol for Germany, like the Statue of Liberty had emerged as a symbol for the United States."
Please tell me if the tenses have been used correctly in the context.
Eric and Ilsa are brother and sister. They (grow) grew (1) up together in the city that used to be known as West Berlin, in the former West Germany. Eric (move) had moved/moved (2) to the United States decades ago, before the eastern and western parts of both Berlin and Germany were reunited in 1990. Ilsa and her family (visit) visited(3) Eric and his family last year. llsa's Family (fly)had flown(4) from Berlin to Detroit for the visit. Although the children (never, meet) had never met(5) before, except through e-mail, the families (have) had (6) a great time together. Every day for a week, the adults and the children (play)were playing (7), talking, and eating together. One day, they (cook) cooked (8) some German recipes that (be) had been (9) in the family for generations. For years, Ilsa (save) had been saving (10) them and treasuring them in a box their mother (give) gave(11) her just before she (die)died (12). One of their mother's favorites (be) had been(13) a dessert called Apple Kuchen. One night after everyone else (already, go) had already gone (14) to bed, Eric and Ilsa (quietly, sit) were quietly sitting(15) and talking. "What have you (miss) missed(16) most about Berlin?" Ilsa wanted to know. Eric (pause) paused(17), then answered, "Mostly, I miss living in a city with such wonderful landmarks. The kids and I (look) had been looking (18) at some books about Berlin and Germany for a while before you and your family (arrive) arrived (19). We (discuss) were discussing(20) the Brandenburg Gate when Franz interrupted to ask why its image (use) was being used(21) as a design on some of the coins back when Germany had converted its money to euros." "What (do) did (22) you tell him?" Ilsa asked. "I (say) said (23) that I (not, be)am not sure(24) sure," answered Eric, “but that I (think) think(25) it was because the gate (become) had become (26) a symbol for Germany, like the Statue of Liberty had emerged as a symbol for the United States."
Top answer
vsuresh Eric (move) had moved/moved (2) to the United States decades ago, before the eastern and western parts of both Berlin and Germany were reunited in 1990. You could use had moved , but I prefer moved . vsuresh llsa's Family (fly)had flown(4) from Berlin to Detroit for the visit.
- vsuresh Eric (move) had moved/moved (2) to the United States decades ago, before the eastern and western parts of both Berlin and Germany were reunited in 1990.
- You could use had moved , but I prefer moved .
- vsuresh llsa's Family (fly)had flown(4) from Berlin to Detroit for the visit.
- You could use had flown , but I prefer flew .
- vsuresh One of their mother's favorites (be) had been(13) a dessert called Apple Kuchen.
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7 Answers
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vsureshEric (move) had moved/moved (2) to the United States decades ago, before the eastern and western parts of both Berlin and Germany were reunited in 1990.You could use had moved, but I prefer moved.
vsureshllsa's Family (fly)had flown(4) from Berlin to Detroit for the visit.You could use
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Thank you, Blue Jay.
I have a few questions in this portion. The portion is blue is where I have some questions.
"...We (discuss) were discussing(20) the Brandenburg Gate when Franz interrupted to ask why its image (use) was being used(21) as a design on some of the coins back when Germany had converted its money to euros." "What (do) did (22) you tell him?" Ilsa asked.
I have a few questions in this portion. The portion is blue is where I have some questions.
"...We (discuss) were discussing(20) the Brandenburg Gate when Franz interrupted to ask why its image (use) was being used(21) as a design on some of the coins back when Germany had converted its money to euros." "What (do) did (22) you tell him?" Ilsa asked.
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If the instructions specify past tense, then present tense is going to be considered wrong. Past tense might be preferable in this sentence, anyway, but in normal use I present tense works too, which is why I didn't edit what you had there.
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Thank you, Blue Jay.
Blue JayIf the instructions specify past tense, then present tense is going to be considered wrong.I do think the same.
Blue JayPast tense might be preferable in this sentence,.....In the context, we use the tenses in present tense because it is direct speech. Please tell me how we can use past tense her
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This is how I would probably write this:
I said that I was not sure," answered Eric, “butthat I thought it was because the gate had become a symbol for Germany, like the Statue of Liberty has emerged as a symbol for the United States."
I left the gate had become... because I assume it refers to the time when Ge
I said that I was not sure," answered Eric, “but
I left the gate had become... because I assume it refers to the time when Ge
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Eric and Ilsa are brother and sister. They (grow) <span;>grew<span;> (1) up together in the city that used to be known as West Berlin, in the former West Germany. Eric (move) <span;>had moved<span;>(2) to the United States decades ago, before the eastern and western parts of both Berlin and Germany were reunited in 1990.
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