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Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
The course/lecture/class is/was
The course today is/was interesting!
The class today is/was interesting!
The lecture today is/was interesting!
Hi,
Do all of the above sound good and mean about the same to you? Thanks.
The class today is/was interesting!
The lecture today is/was interesting!
Hi,
Do all of the above sound good and mean about the same to you? Thanks.
Top answer
Let's begin with the first sentence, where course means 'a series of lectures on a particular subject'. Since this 'series' probably lasts for more than a day (perhaps several weeks, months, or a year), using it in connection with 'today' is rather awkward. ' is a bit more complicated to analyse because of the difference in American and British English.
- Let's begin with the first sentence, where course means 'a series of lectures on a particular subject'.
- Since this 'series' probably lasts for more than a day (perhaps several weeks, months, or a year), using it in connection with 'today' is rather awkward.
- ' is a bit more complicated to analyse because of the difference in American and British English.
- Thus, in Britain 'class' is synonymous with 'course', so it is not likely to be heard together with 'today'.
- However, in American English, 'class' has a different meaning, namely that of 'one of the periods in the school day when a group of students are taught', eg, What time is your next class?
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4 Answers
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Let's begin with the first sentence, where course means 'a series of lectures on a particular subject'. Since this 'series' probably lasts for more than a day (perhaps several weeks, months, or a year), using it in connection with 'today' is rather awkward.
'The class today...' is a bit more complicated to analyse because of the difference in American and British English. Thus, in Britain 'c
'The class today...' is a bit more complicated to analyse because of the difference in American and British English. Thus, in Britain 'c
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Thanks. Gleb.
What about the tense? Is it better to use the simple present or past tense?
What about the tense? Is it better to use the simple present or past tense?
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Use "is" if you are speaking while the class is taking place. Use "was" if you are speaking after the class is over.
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Angliholic, simple present in these sentences is somewhat strange. It definitely cannot relate here to past time, and the only obvious case when simple present refers to the future is when the event it tells about is unalterably fixed in advance, as in:
The plane leaves for Ankara at eight o'clock tonight. Of course, the lecture can be scheduled to a specific time, but th
The plane leaves for Ankara at eight o'clock tonight. Of course, the lecture can be scheduled to a specific time, but th
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