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Tatiana30241 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

What tense is this, please?

Can someone please tell me what tense/form/voice or whatever is being used over and over again in the following horribly written paragraph?

Ignoring the elevator, he headed for the stairway and catapulted himself down to the first floor. Laboring for breath, he felt like he was about to hyperventilate. Struggling to take control of himself, he stopped and sat on the bottom step. Breathing slowly, he rested for a minute. Regaining his composure, he stood, straightened his jacket, placed the pizza and the socks used to cover his hands in a garbage can, and walked briskly to his car. Fighting down a wave of nausea, he managed to get home.

I realise that the "-ing" verbs are present participles, but what is this tense exactly?

Thank you
  

Top answer

Tatiana30241 Can someone please tell me what tense/form/voice or whatever is being used over and over again in the following horribly written paragraph? Ignoring the elevator, he headed for the stairway and catapulted himself down to the first floor. Laboring for breath, he felt like he was about to hyperventilate.

— Philip

  • Tatiana30241 Can someone please tell me what tense/form/voice or whatever is being used over and over again in the following horribly written paragraph?
  • Ignoring the elevator, he headed for the stairway and catapulted himself down to the first floor.
  • Laboring for breath, he felt like he was about to hyperventilate.
  • Struggling to take control of himself, he stopped and sat on the bottom step.
  • Breathing slowly, he rested for a minute.
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3 Answers
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Tatiana30241Can someone please tell me what tense/form/voice or whatever is being used over and over again in the following horribly written paragraph?

Ignoring the elevator, he headed for the stairway and catapulted himself down to the first floor. Laboring for breath, he felt like he was about to hyperventilate. Struggling to take control of himself, he sto
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The phrases that begin with those -ing words are called participial phrases, and they don't have any tense. Participles are "non-finite" forms, that is, not tensed, having no tense.

CJ
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CalifJimThe phrases that begin with those -ing words are called participial phrases, and they don't have any tense. Participles are "non-finite" forms, that is, not tensed, having no tense.

CJ

Thanks, CJ, for your more accurate explanation. I was just trying to show the 'meaning' of the form without [possibly] confusing the p
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