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New Hope Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Using "today" in a story

I have often read the word "today" in stories as in the one below.
Does it make sense because a story describes an event of the past?

Sam woke up early in the morning. He was very excited. Today his class was going on a picnic. He got ready for school quickly. He then.......
  

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There are good teachers here and I call myself just a novice but I'd like to post my opinion! I think it's acceptable just because it has been used in story.

— Khoshtip

  • There are good teachers here and I call myself just a novice but I'd like to post my opinion!
  • I think it's acceptable just because it has been used in story.
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6 Answers
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There are good teachers here and I call myself just a novice but I'd like to post my opinion! Emotion: smile I think it's acceptable just because
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It's fine. The writer is using free indirect speech to report Sam's thoughts without using a reporting verb.
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haroon rashidSam woke up early in the morning. He was very excited. Today his class was going on a picnic. He got ready for school quickly. He then.......
In my opinion, I would say " Sam woke up early today and he was very excited becase his class was going on a picnic......
I would place "today" at the beginning of the sentence.
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AnonymousIn my opinion, I would say " Sam woke up early today and he was very excited becase his class was going on a picnic......I would place "today" at the beginning of the sentence.
That would suggest that he woke up on the day the words were written and loses the idea of the free indirect speech.
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fivejedjon" Sam woke up early today and he was very excited becase his class was going on a picnic..
Sorry, I don't see the change of meaning as you pointed out. I merely move "today" to the front part of the sentence to enhance the flow of the passage.
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AnonymousIn my opinion, I would say " Sam woke up early today and he was very excited because his class was going on a picnic......I would place "today" at the beginning of the sentence.
You did not move "today" to the beginning of the sentence.

You also changed the narrative style of the original
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