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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
What tense? He is looking sad when he?
Hi. What tense or tenses is/are available for use for the underlined part? Is the present perfect continous the only choice available? Thank you for your anticipated help.
He looks sad when he sings.
He is looking sad when he ________.
He looks sad when he sings.
He is looking sad when he ________.
Top answer
The problem is that 'he is looking sad' is not natural there. He looks sad when he sings. He l ooks sad when he is singing.
- The problem is that 'he is looking sad' is not natural there.
- He looks sad when he sings.
- He l ooks sad when he is singing.
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8 Answers
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The problem is that 'he is looking sad' is not natural there.
He looks sad when he sings.
He looks sad when he is singing.
He looks sad when he sings.
He looks sad when he is singing.
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Hi. Please let me lay out the context in which a similar clause to the clause "he is looking sad" might be correct, even though I am sure.
(made-up context)
A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song holding a microphone. To elicit the word "microphone" from them, a person who is a teacher asks them this question.
(made-up context)
A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song holding a microphone. To elicit the word "microphone" from them, a person who is a teacher asks them this question.
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AnonymousI've never heard of a song that can hold a microphone.
A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song holding a microphone.
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I would just ask the students watching the video:
What is he holding in his hand?
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Hi. Thank you. I think I can correct the mistake by writing:
1. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song while holding a microphone.
2. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song, holding a microphone
While at the topic of what I think is adverbial
1. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song while holding a microphone.
2. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song, holding a microphone
While at the topic of what I think is adverbial
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Hi,
Oh, those dangling modifiers! They bite us when we least expect it!
1. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song while holding a microphone. OK
2. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song, holding a microp
Oh, those dangling modifiers! They bite us when we least expect it!
1. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song while holding a microphone. OK
2. A group of English learners are watching a music video where there is a singer singing a song, holding a microp
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Hi. Thank you. Let's assume we are talking about a music video or cartoon where series of scenes are involved, and let's say a teacher is asking his students this question based on what they watched. It will be True or False. Is this correct? Or, perhaps, does this look "natural"?
He (the singer) is looking sad when he is singing.
How about this question with two present c
He (the singer) is looking sad when he is singing.
How about this question with two present c
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He (the singer) is looking sad when he is singing.-- I continue to think that while the grammar is OK, the continuous aspect is a little odd with 'look' (= 'appear'), as it often is with other verbs of sensation.
When she was coming, what was he doing?- This is fine: these are both action verbs.
When she was coming, what was he doing?- This is fine: these are both action verbs.
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