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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Tense consistensy
Goodmorning,
When writing an essay, I'm told to keep your writing in one tense. But I tend to mix up present and past tense, which annoys some people.
Let say I start my writing in the present time, and suddenly I want to describe an event that has started in the past and has also finished in the past. E.g., I broke my leg in 1912, and it wasn't pleasant at all. My broken leg needed to heal for 6 weeks. At that time, I didn't go out at all but stayed at home for recovery. And then I wil go on with my essay in the present time untill I slip back to the past tense, This mix-up is annoying according to some people.
With this in mind, I'm asking you guys what I should do. Should I write past events in present perfect tense? E.g.,In 1912, I've broken my leg, and it isn't a pleasant at all. My broken leg has[?] needed to heal for 6 months. At that time, .
I think it's weirdly worded when I use present perfect delibeeately. Does anyone have suggentions for me on this matter?
When writing an essay, I'm told to keep your writing in one tense. But I tend to mix up present and past tense, which annoys some people.
Let say I start my writing in the present time, and suddenly I want to describe an event that has started in the past and has also finished in the past. E.g., I broke my leg in 1912, and it wasn't pleasant at all. My broken leg needed to heal for 6 weeks. At that time, I didn't go out at all but stayed at home for recovery. And then I wil go on with my essay in the present time untill I slip back to the past tense, This mix-up is annoying according to some people.
With this in mind, I'm asking you guys what I should do. Should I write past events in present perfect tense? E.g.,In 1912, I've broken my leg, and it isn't a pleasant at all. My broken leg has[?] needed to heal for 6 months. At that time, .
I think it's weirdly worded when I use present perfect delibeeately. Does anyone have suggentions for me on this matter?
Top answer
For me, I think it is alright to use past tense and present tense in the writing, as long as you state clearly when you choose to switch to another tense. I think "In 1912, I've broken my leg" is fine, but the second sentence is unnatural for me. Maybe others can tell us more about this issue?
- For me, I think it is alright to use past tense and present tense in the writing, as long as you state clearly when you choose to switch to another tense.
- I think "In 1912, I've broken my leg" is fine, but the second sentence is unnatural for me.
- Maybe others can tell us more about this issue?
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1 Answers
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For me, I think it is alright to use past tense and present tense in the writing, as long as you state clearly when you choose to switch to another tense.
I think "In 1912, I've broken my leg" is fine, but the second sentence is unnatural for me.
Maybe others can tell us more about this issue?
I think "In 1912, I've broken my leg" is fine, but the second sentence is unnatural for me.
Maybe others can tell us more about this issue?
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