0
Levis1 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar
Weren't/aren't
I'm planning to visit a friend in Boston but she tells me she's home in Europe now. And I ask: Wait, but weren't/aren't you studying in Shanghai?
Are both OK? What's the difference.
Are both OK? What's the difference.
Top answer
Wait, aren't you studying in Shanghai? ) Wait, weren't you studying in Shanghai? )
- Wait, aren't you studying in Shanghai?
- ) Wait, weren't you studying in Shanghai?
- )
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
Wait, aren't you studying in Shanghai? (Right now she's enrolled in a school located in Shanghai.)
Wait, weren't you studying in Shanghai? (In the past she was enrolled in a school located in Shanghai.)
Wait, weren't you studying in Shanghai? (In the past she was enrolled in a school located in Shanghai.)
00
"but weren't/aren't you studying in Shanghai?" implies that you expected her to be in Shanghai. This does not seem to fit with the statement "I'm planning to visit a friend in Boston". I think that this problem needs to be addressed before we get to worrying about "weren't" versus "aren't".
(Cross-posted.)
(Cross-posted.)
0
Related Questions