Tenses

Question

I was wondering if someone could please help me

I did post a thread a couple of days ago but the answers totally confused me. I dont know if it is just me but although I understand about past present and future I just can't get my head around these. I have to look at the following sentences using present simple tense verbs and decide what time reference they have PRESENT, PAST or FUTURE

1. Cantona passes to Giggs, who passes to Sharp. Present

2. She walks in, comes right up to me and says.. present

3. the train leaves at 10:30 future

4. we'll phone as soon as we get there future

Thanks in advance for your help

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

yaggy74I have to look at the following sentences using present simple tense verbs and decide what time reference they have PRESENT, PAST or FUTURE

You have to keep separate these two ideas: tense and time reference. You seem to have a good grasp of this.

The only problem I see is in the second example. Here, it sounds very much like someone is telling a story about what happened in the past, but is simply trying to make the story more lively by telling it in the present tense. I find it very unlikely that a person would comment that "she walks in" at the very moment she walks in, "comes right up to me" at the very moment she comes up to them, and "says" just at the very moment that she begins to speak. More likely, these things happened in the past. I would say "Past" for the answer to sentence 2.

(The first example is different, because this is basically a broadcast of a sports event, and the announcer is describing actions at the very moment they are occurring. That one is "Present", just as you have answered.)

I hope this clears up your confusion better than those previous answers.

CJ

Yaggy74 · Answer

Yes I understand your point thank you for that it helps

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