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Vcolts Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Tense Q
Ex.
I was unhappy when I received this product. because the product had several problems/was damaged. As you can see the product has scratches and cracks...
*The context here is that you got a product which is damaged and you are complaining to the sales clerk about the product.
Q. Now the product is still damaged in various ways.
Is it the norm to keep the "was damaged / had several problems" in past tense?
Or, is it okay to keep it in the present tense (because the product has... / is damaged) because it is still a relevant fact up to the time that the person is discussing it with the sales clerk?
If I keep the first sentence in the past tense, can it still mean that the product continues to "have several problems?"
Which is the native way of saying it?
Thanks!
I was unhappy when I received this product. because the product had several problems/was damaged. As you can see the product has scratches and cracks...
*The context here is that you got a product which is damaged and you are complaining to the sales clerk about the product.
Q. Now the product is still damaged in various ways.
Is it the norm to keep the "was damaged / had several problems" in past tense?
Or, is it okay to keep it in the present tense (because the product has... / is damaged) because it is still a relevant fact up to the time that the person is discussing it with the sales clerk?
If I keep the first sentence in the past tense, can it still mean that the product continues to "have several problems?"
Which is the native way of saying it?
Thanks!
Top answer
vcolts Is it the norm to keep the "was damaged / had several problems" in past tense? Yes. You're talking about how you felt (I was unhappy) when you received the product and what state the product was in when you received it.
- vcolts Is it the norm to keep the "was damaged / had several problems" in past tense?
- Yes.
- You're talking about how you felt (I was unhappy) when you received the product and what state the product was in when you received it.
- That was all in the past.
- It should be obvious if you show the sales clerk the scratches and cracks that the damage that occurred has not magically disappeared.
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1 Answers
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vcoltsIs it the norm to keep the "was damaged / had several problems" in past tense?Yes. You're talking about how you felt (I was unhappy) when you received the product and what state the product was in when you received it. That was all in the past. It should be obvious if you show the sales clerk the scratches and cracks that the damage that occurred has
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