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Doctanian Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Using present tense words in a past tense story? (Words ending in "ing")

Hi,

My question is it okay to use "present tense" words in a "past tense" story? More specifcally, words ending in "ing"?

Example:

Cindy's eyes peered over her book, bulging at the sight of John.

Is that sentence wrong when it comes to a story told in past tense? I mean, because I tend to write like that. It doesn't seem too odd to me, but I'm no English major.

Much obliged.
  

Top answer

"ing" words are present participles, and aren't conjugated into past tense. The helping verbs ("to be" for the progressive tense) are the verbs that get conjugated. Your sentence is an elision.

— Vorpar

  • "ing" words are present participles, and aren't conjugated into past tense.
  • The helping verbs ("to be" for the progressive tense) are the verbs that get conjugated.
  • Your sentence is an elision.
  • If I break it down, I get: Cindy's eyes were bulging.
  • The "were" is the past tense conjugation that is necessary to form a past progressive tense with "bulging".
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3 Answers
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"ing" words are present participles, and aren't conjugated into past tense. The helping verbs ("to be" for the progressive tense) are the verbs that get conjugated.

Your sentence is an elision. If I break it down, I get: Cindy's eyes were bulging. The "were" is the past tense conjugation that is necessary to form a past progressive tense with "bulging".

I don't find anything wron
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Thank you very much, that was most insightful.
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Your mistake is thinking that the -ing ending always indicates present tense. It only indicates present tense when preceded by am, is, or are.

-ing also marks a participle, which is similar to an adjective in function. When used in this way, it takes its tense from whatever tense is used in the clause it accompanies.

CJ
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