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Tenacious Learner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
That or This?
Hi Teachers,
This is a paragraph of a story:
Ten minutes later he was outside the house. He stopped and listened. “Strange!” he thought. “I can’t hear anything, not even a radio or a television, but there must be someone in there! There’s a light on!” Just at that moment, a thought struck him.
If I asked the students to change the Simple Past tense into The Simple Present Tense, just as an exercise, it should be like this:
Ten minutes later he is outside the house. He stops and listens. “Strange!” he thinks. “I can’t hear anything, not even a radio or a television, but there must be someone in there! There’s a light on!” Just at that moment, a thought strikes him.
My question is, 'Just at that moment' should be, 'Just at this moment', or not? If not, why not please?
Thanks in advance
This is a paragraph of a story:
Ten minutes later he was outside the house. He stopped and listened. “Strange!” he thought. “I can’t hear anything, not even a radio or a television, but there must be someone in there! There’s a light on!” Just at that moment, a thought struck him.
If I asked the students to change the Simple Past tense into The Simple Present Tense, just as an exercise, it should be like this:
Ten minutes later he is outside the house. He stops and listens. “Strange!” he thinks. “I can’t hear anything, not even a radio or a television, but there must be someone in there! There’s a light on!” Just at that moment, a thought strikes him.
My question is, 'Just at that moment' should be, 'Just at this moment', or not? If not, why not please?
Thanks in advance
Top answer
Thinking Spain My question is, 'Just at that moment' should be, 'Just at this moment', or not? It makes no difference at all to my ear. this is just a little more consistent with the present tense, but that is not wrong either, in my opinion.
- Thinking Spain My question is, 'Just at that moment' should be, 'Just at this moment', or not?
- It makes no difference at all to my ear.
- this is just a little more consistent with the present tense, but that is not wrong either, in my opinion.
- CJ
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2 Answers
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Thinking SpainMy question is, 'Just at that moment' should be, 'Just at this moment', or not?It makes no difference at all to my ear. this is just a little more consistent with the present tense, but that is not wrong either, in my opinion.
CJ
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Hi Jim,
Thank YOU for the reply. This thing has been driving me crazy for a few days.
Best regards
TS
Thank YOU for the reply. This thing has been driving me crazy for a few days.
Best regards
TS
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