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Stoyan Todorov (Lafindepartie) Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
The past continuous conundrum
Hello, here is a couple of examples I would like to discuss. I have been glossing over my potholes in grammar, and the results aren't nowhere near satisfactory. Nevertheless, here are the examples I would like to discuss.
1. I was hoping to go away this weeend, but my boss gave me some work that I have to finish by Monday.
If we used the past simple instead of the past continuous (was hoping-->hoped), would that make the sentence illogical?
To my understanding, "was hoping" is still somehow connected to the present, in the sense that "was hoping" is used to describe something that we "might do" or are indeed "looking forward to".
While the use of "hoped" would sever the connection with the present and turn the sentence into a mishmash of misused tenses.
These are my explanations. I would like to submit a couple more examples, but all in good time.
1. I was hoping to go away this weeend, but my boss gave me some work that I have to finish by Monday.
If we used the past simple instead of the past continuous (was hoping-->hoped), would that make the sentence illogical?
To my understanding, "was hoping" is still somehow connected to the present, in the sense that "was hoping" is used to describe something that we "might do" or are indeed "looking forward to".
While the use of "hoped" would sever the connection with the present and turn the sentence into a mishmash of misused tenses.
These are my explanations. I would like to submit a couple more examples, but all in good time.
Top answer
1. I was hoping to go away this weekend, but my boss gave me some work that I have to finish by Monday. Implies that the time of speaking is perhaps Thursday or Friday.
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- I was hoping to go away this weekend, but my boss gave me some work that I have to finish by Monday.
- Implies that the time of speaking is perhaps Thursday or Friday.
- Your hopes were high for a great weekend in the country on Monday-Wednesday, but then you boss dropped an assignment on you.
- "was hoping" = a situation that had duration, up to the near present time.
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8 Answers
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1. I was hoping to go away this weekend, but my boss gave me some work that I have to finish by Monday.
Implies that the time of speaking is perhaps Thursday or Friday. Your hopes were high for a great weekend in the country on Monday-Wednesday, but then you boss dropped an assignment on you.
"was hoping" = a situation that had duration, up to the near present time. It creates m
Implies that the time of speaking is perhaps Thursday or Friday. Your hopes were high for a great weekend in the country on Monday-Wednesday, but then you boss dropped an assignment on you.
"was hoping" = a situation that had duration, up to the near present time. It creates m
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Thank you for the thorough explanation, Alphecca Stars!
Here is another example I would like to have discussed, if I may:
I was playing badminton four times a week before I broke my ankle.
Is the continuous (was playing) form mandatory in this example? I know that in spoken English we use the past continuous to emphasise that repeated actions went on for a limited and t
Here is another example I would like to have discussed, if I may:
I was playing badminton four times a week before I broke my ankle.
Is the continuous (was playing) form mandatory in this example? I know that in spoken English we use the past continuous to emphasise that repeated actions went on for a limited and t
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Stoyan Todorov (Lafindepartie)would it be wrong to use the simple form instead?It would not be wrong, though it would not carry exactly the same overtones.
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Thanks for partaking in the discussion, fivejedjon!
Would you mind highlighting what those overtones may be?
If I understand correctly:
a)the past simple suggests that I was in the habit of playing badminton my entire life up to the point I broke my ankle.
b) "I hadn't been playing ba
Would you mind highlighting what those overtones may be?
If I understand correctly:
a)the past simple suggests that I was in the habit of playing badminton my entire life up to the point I broke my ankle.
b) "I hadn't been playing ba
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Stoyan Todorov (Lafindepartie)BUT would it be wrong to use the simple form instead?This is best because you are comparing two past events. One event of some time duration was interrupted by an "instantaneous" event:
I had been playing badminton four times a week before I broke my ankle.
No, the simple past is not wrong, but the relati
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Much appreciated! I understand your explanations clearly, but I can't quite arrive at it. It's rather upsetting that these things should sprout now. I will mull it over and hopefully with repetion I will be able to uproot the flaws.
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Sometimes it is completely grammatical to use the simple past, past continuous or their perfect and modal counterparts.
A native speaker instinctively chooses the form that fits all the various implications. Sometimes the differences are very indistinct and subtle.
I was playing badminton four times a week before I broke my ankle. ( eg I still have the brace on my ankle, and may get
A native speaker instinctively chooses the form that fits all the various implications. Sometimes the differences are very indistinct and subtle.
I was playing badminton four times a week before I broke my ankle. ( eg I still have the brace on my ankle, and may get
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Stoyan Todorov (Lafindepartie)I was hoping to go away this weekend, but my boss gave me some work that I have to finish by Monday. If we used the past simple instead of the past continuous (was hoping-->hoped), would that make the sentence illogical?No. I hoped to go away ..., but ... is OK.
Nevertheless
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