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Swampwiz Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
What is the proper tense for a current concept relating to a past event?
(Sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this topic. I did not see a general grammar section.)
I was proofreading my niece's writing, and I came upon a sentence that I was not sure how to do:
I was proofreading my niece's writing, and I came upon a sentence that I was not sure how to do:
My most important achievement (is/was) being selected to an All-Star team.The concept "my most important achievement" is a current concept, which would thus be done via the present tense, yet the event itself was done in the past. It seems awkward to use either.
Top answer
How about "My most important achievement has been my selection to an All-Star team"? )
- How about "My most important achievement has been my selection to an All-Star team"?
- )
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3 Answers
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How about "My most important achievement has been my selection to an All-Star team"?
(You don't say if your niece is still a member of the team, but this seems to work for either case.)
(You don't say if your niece is still a member of the team, but this seems to work for either case.)
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That's it. The perfect tense is meant to signify state due to a preceding event, so present perfect would be the proper tense.
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swampwizIt seems awkward to use either.It also seems awkward to call being selected an achievement. It seems to me that the achievement was something else, and it was that achievement that led to her being selected. I would either specify the real achievement or call the selection an honor.
CJ
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