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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
tense variations
Context: The speaker is a teacher and describes a situation where students who have failed tests come see their teachers to complain about the tests being too difficult.
Do all of these sentences sound natural?
Which is your favorite and why?
(1) We sometimes encounter students who come to our offices and ask how they could have worked so hard but still failed our tests.
(2) We sometimes encounter students who come to our offices and ask how they worked so hard but still failed our tests.
(3) We sometimes encounter students who come to our offices and ask how they have worked so hard but still failed our tests.
Do all of these sentences sound natural?
Which is your favorite and why?
(1) We sometimes encounter students who come to our offices and ask how they could have worked so hard but still failed our tests.
(2) We sometimes encounter students who come to our offices and ask how they worked so hard but still failed our tests.
(3) We sometimes encounter students who come to our offices and ask how they have worked so hard but still failed our tests.
Top answer
Only (1) carries the meaning you want. 'How' works poorly if at all with the other verb forms you offer.
- Only (1) carries the meaning you want.
- 'How' works poorly if at all with the other verb forms you offer.
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2 Answers
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Only (1) carries the meaning you want. 'How' works poorly if at all with the other verb forms you offer.
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