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Silvia Black Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Use of tenses
I need to translate some sentences but I'm not sure what tenses are correct.
You're probably not familiar with my language but I'll try to explain what tenses are supposed to be here:
1) Both sentences are in the past,so here should be sequence of tenses
What he meant, had remained unclear. (It's like no one managed to figure it out)
2) Again, both sentences are in the past.
That they didn't want to listen to him, had been a heavy blow for him.
However I would say: That they didn't want to listen to him, was a heavy blow for him.
3) The difficulty was that you had to find a suitable room.
4) It's like: I don't know what could they suggest, but it would be considered
Whatever they had suggested, all would be carefully thought out.
Don't be surprised by sentence structure, I need to use subordinate clause for translation
I hope you understood what I wanted to say...my grammar is so bad, shame on me..
You're probably not familiar with my language but I'll try to explain what tenses are supposed to be here:
1) Both sentences are in the past,so here should be sequence of tenses
What he meant, had remained unclear. (It's like no one managed to figure it out)
2) Again, both sentences are in the past.
That they didn't want to listen to him, had been a heavy blow for him.
However I would say: That they didn't want to listen to him, was a heavy blow for him.
3) The difficulty was that you had to find a suitable room.
4) It's like: I don't know what could they suggest, but it would be considered
Whatever they had suggested, all would be carefully thought out.
Don't be surprised by sentence structure, I need to use subordinate clause for translation
I hope you understood what I wanted to say...my grammar is so bad, shame on me..
Top answer
1) What he meant (had) remained unclear. Both simple past and past perfect are possible, but the past perfect needs extra context to justify it (it is not justified by this sentence alone). Note, no comma.
- 1) What he meant (had) remained unclear.
- Both simple past and past perfect are possible, but the past perfect needs extra context to justify it (it is not justified by this sentence alone).
- Note, no comma.
- You should "never" put a comma between a subject and its verb (unless it's one of a pair setting off a parenthetical phrase, of course).
- 2) That they didn't want to listen to him was / had been a heavy blow for him.
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5 Answers
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1) What he meant (had) remained unclear.
Both simple past and past perfect are possible, but the past perfect needs extra context to justify it (it is not justified by this sentence alone). Note, no comma. You should "never" put a comma between a subject and its verb (unless it's one of a pair setting off a parenthetical phrase, of course).
2) That they didn't want to l
Both simple past and past perfect are possible, but the past perfect needs extra context to justify it (it is not justified by this sentence alone). Note, no comma. You should "never" put a comma between a subject and its verb (unless it's one of a pair setting off a parenthetical phrase, of course).
2) That they didn't want to l
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Thanks for your reply.
And what about problematic condition,can I use it in the last sentence:
4) Whatever they should suggest, all will be carefully thought out.
Does the meaning change this way?
And what about problematic condition,can I use it in the last sentence:
4) Whatever they should suggest, all will be carefully thought out.
Does the meaning change this way?
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"Whatever they suggested ... it would have been ..." is referring to past suggestions.
"Whatever they (should) suggest ..." is referring to future suggestions. The word "should" is rather formal here and would often be omitted.
For me, "all will be carefully thought out" does not connect tremendously well with the first part of the sentence. I prefer "Whatever they suggest, it w
"Whatever they (should) suggest ..." is referring to future suggestions. The word "should" is rather formal here and would often be omitted.
For me, "all will be carefully thought out" does not connect tremendously well with the first part of the sentence. I prefer "Whatever they suggest, it w
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Can I ask the last question?
If I say:
Whatever they suggest, all will be carefully thought out.
or
Whatever they suggest, it will be carefully considered
"Whatever they suggest" will be an adverbial clause of concession, right?
How should I parap
If I say:
Whatever they suggest, all will be carefully thought out.
or
Whatever they suggest, it will be carefully considered
"Whatever they suggest" will be an adverbial clause of concession, right?
How should I parap
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Silvia Black"Whatever they suggest" will be an adverbial clause of concession, right?Yes, I think so.
Silvia BlackHow should I paraphrase the sentence to make "Whatever they suggest" - a subject or an object clause?Whatever they suggest will be carefully considered.
The committee [for example] wi
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