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Pleasehelp Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Tense issues
Hi,
I was hoping you could play so we would be the best team.
Is the sentence above past tense?
How do you change it to the present tense or a situation that might occur in the future but at the same time have it more as a possibility than 100% certainty?
I'm confused by the "polite form" of will and can. 'Cause they're also past tenses of will and can but at the same time are used for a sublter way of speaking.
I was hoping you could play so we would be the best team.
Is the sentence above past tense?
How do you change it to the present tense or a situation that might occur in the future but at the same time have it more as a possibility than 100% certainty?
I'm confused by the "polite form" of will and can. 'Cause they're also past tenses of will and can but at the same time are used for a sublter way of speaking.
Top answer
Hi, I was hoping you could play so we would be the best team. Is the sentence above past tense? 'Was hoping' is past continuous tense.
- Hi, I was hoping you could play so we would be the best team.
- Is the sentence above past tense?
- 'Was hoping' is past continuous tense.
- However, your sentence is often said in the present moment as a form of politeness, when what is really meant is I hope you can play so (that) we will be the best team.
- Moving a sentence like this 'into the past' is often called 'distancing', and is considered a common form of politeness.
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3 Answers
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Hi,
I was hoping you could play so we would be the best team.
Is the sentence above past tense? 'Was hoping' is past continuous tense.
However, your sentence is often said in the present moment as a form of politeness, when what is really meant is
I hope you can play so (that) we will be the best team.
Moving a sentence like this 'into the pas
I was hoping you could play so we would be the best team.
Is the sentence above past tense? 'Was hoping' is past continuous tense.
However, your sentence is often said in the present moment as a form of politeness, when what is really meant is
I hope you can play so (that) we will be the best team.
Moving a sentence like this 'into the pas
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Thanks Clive,
How about this sentence?
I was hoping you had game so that we'd dominate on the court.
Does the same rule apply?
Also would it be okay to change tenses within a sentence. Or if a sentence has to stay in the same tense no matter what.
eg I was hoping you have game so that we'd dominate on the court.
How about this sentence?
I was hoping you had game so that we'd dominate on the court.
Does the same rule apply?
Also would it be okay to change tenses within a sentence. Or if a sentence has to stay in the same tense no matter what.
eg I was hoping you have game so that we'd dominate on the court.
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Hi,
How about this sentence?
I was hoping you had game so that we'd dominate on the court.
Does the same rule apply? Yes.
Also would it be okay to change tenses within a sentence. Or if a sentence has to stay in the same tense no matter what. I assume you are speaking only of sentences like this. It's not uncommon, although it can start to sound a bit aw
How about this sentence?
I was hoping you had game so that we'd dominate on the court.
Does the same rule apply? Yes.
Also would it be okay to change tenses within a sentence. Or if a sentence has to stay in the same tense no matter what. I assume you are speaking only of sentences like this. It's not uncommon, although it can start to sound a bit aw
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