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Guzhao67 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

use of present or past tense with relation to historical event vs truth

Hi everyone, I learn that Simple Present Tense is used to express general truth, and Simple Past Tense historical event. But for me, sometimes it's hard to draw a clearcut line between truth and historical event. For example, we say "1921 is in the 20th century". On the other hand, the year 1921 has passed. If we treat the sentence as general truth, can we say "Tobacco is brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh".? The statement is a historical event, but it is true, just as "1921 is in the 20th century". thank you.
  

Top answer

guzhao67 "1921 is in the 20th century". >> This statement is true TODAY, it was true in 1921, it will be true in 3010. "Tobacco is brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh".?

— AlpheccaStars

  • guzhao67 "1921 is in the 20th century".
  • >> This statement is true TODAY, it was true in 1921, it will be true in 3010.
  • "Tobacco is brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh".?
  • >>> This statement is NOT true today, because it is not happening today (Sir Walter being long dead).
  • "Tobacco was brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh".
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3 Answers
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guzhao67"1921 is in the 20th century".>> This statement is true TODAY, it was true in 1921, it will be true in 3010.
"Tobacco is brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh".? >>> This statement is NOT true today, because it is not happening today (Sir Walter being long dead).
"Tobacco was brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh
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Hope this helps. "Critical Present."

Action expressed in critical present: Ernest Hemingway shows his genius even in his early novels.

Condition expressed in critical present: Emily Dickinson is a famous nineteenth-century poet.

This might not be the answer you are looking for,but I hope it gives you an idea.
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guzhao67to express general truth
The key word is "general". A general truth is usually a statement that is true at all times and places:
A triangle has three sides.
1921 is in the 20th century.
25 is greater than 14.
An elephant is an animal.
Water is a liquid at room temperature.
The moon goes a
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