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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Various Tenses As To Time
Maybe, I was just lucky I've developed a way of handling it efficiently by getting it done first thing in the morning, so I was free to concentrate on more demanding responsibilities.
Disregarding tense-matching, is the sentence above reasonably possible?
My reasons:
first 'was' - because 'being lucky' happened when I was an employee of a particular company
have developed - because I still have this way of handling things
second 'was' - because 'being free' again happened when I was an employee of a particular company
Also, if I change the second 'was' to 'am', does it simply describe the truth about the effect of developing such a way of handling things?
If you could suggest an even better construction with my reasons above, that would be great! Thanks.
Disregarding tense-matching, is the sentence above reasonably possible?
My reasons:
first 'was' - because 'being lucky' happened when I was an employee of a particular company
have developed - because I still have this way of handling things
second 'was' - because 'being free' again happened when I was an employee of a particular company
Also, if I change the second 'was' to 'am', does it simply describe the truth about the effect of developing such a way of handling things?
If you could suggest an even better construction with my reasons above, that would be great! Thanks.
Top answer
Hi, Maybe, I was just lucky I' ve developed a way of handling it efficiently by getting it done first thing in the morning, so I was free to concentrate on more demanding responsibilities. Disregarding tense-matching, is the sentence above reasonably possible? Yes.
- Hi, Maybe, I was just lucky I' ve developed a way of handling it efficiently by getting it done first thing in the morning, so I was free to concentrate on more demanding responsibilities.
- Disregarding tense-matching, is the sentence above reasonably possible?
- Yes.
- It's the kind of casual thing we say naturally.
- My reasons: first 'was' - because 'being lucky' happened when I was an employee of a particular company have developed - because I still have this way of handling things second 'was' - because 'being free' again happened when I was an employee of a particular company Also, if I change the second 'was' to 'am', does it simply describe the truth about the effect of developing such a way of handling things?
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6 Answers
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Hi,
Maybe, I was just lucky I've developed a way of handling it efficiently by getting it done first thing in the morning, so I was free to concentrate on more demanding responsibilities.
Disregarding tense-matching, is the sentence above reasonably possible? Yes. It's the kind of casual thing we say naturally.
My reasons:
first 'wa
Maybe, I was just lucky I've developed a way of handling it efficiently by getting it done first thing in the morning, so I was free to concentrate on more demanding responsibilities.
Disregarding tense-matching, is the sentence above reasonably possible? Yes. It's the kind of casual thing we say naturally.
My reasons:
first 'wa
00
Hi Clive,
Thank you for your explanation and your suggestion.
This is for a job interview. Don't you think the present tense is much preferred, i.e. 'have developed' and 'am free to concentrate' except 'was lucky'?
Thank you for your explanation and your suggestion.
This is for a job interview. Don't you think the present tense is much preferred, i.e. 'have developed' and 'am free to concentrate' except 'was lucky'?
CliveMuch depends on the context in which you want to say this. In a job interview, for example, do you want to talk about luck?
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Hi,
This is for a job interview. Don't you think the present tense is much preferred, i.e. 'have developed' and 'am free to concentrate' except 'was lucky'? Yes. Why not make the whole thing relate to your present situuation?
Maybe I am just lucky that I've developed a way of handling it efficiently by getting it done first thing in the morning, so I am fre
This is for a job interview. Don't you think the present tense is much preferred, i.e. 'have developed' and 'am free to concentrate' except 'was lucky'? Yes. Why not make the whole thing relate to your present situuation?
Maybe I am just lucky that I've developed a way of handling it efficiently by getting it done first thing in the morning, so I am fre
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OK, I'll make everything relate to the present.
CliveTo my mind, 'maybe' and 'just' (and 'lucky') sound more tentative and uncertain than I'd want to sound in an interview.I was thinking that they sound humble, but I understand I also have to sound assertive.
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Hi,
Think of it as sounding confident.
In a Western-style interview, you have to convince the interviewer that you are better than the other applicants, and that he should give the job to you.
Clive
Think of it as sounding confident.
In a Western-style interview, you have to convince the interviewer that you are better than the other applicants, and that he should give the job to you.
Clive
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Thank you for the advice, Clive. I will take note of that. You've always been a great help.
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