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Enchanted Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
why present tense?
Guys:
He is talking a guy who died a day ago:
" it makes no sense. A man flies 8 missions into the space, and he falls out of a plane?"
Why flies and falls? not flew or fell? or even perfect form?
Thanks,
Ench
He is talking a guy who died a day ago:
" it makes no sense. A man flies 8 missions into the space, and he falls out of a plane?"
Why flies and falls? not flew or fell? or even perfect form?
Thanks,
Ench
Top answer
html It's called the historical present tense. It's used here to emphasize disbelief. CJ
- html It's called the historical present tense.
- It's used here to emphasize disbelief.
- CJ
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8 Answers
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See http://www.bartleby.com/68/99/2999.html
It's called the historical present tense.
It's used here to emphasize disbelief.
CJ
It's called the historical present tense.
It's used here to emphasize disbelief.
CJ
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Thanks, CJ and all.
I also saw many articles in Wikipedia that are talking about the synopsis of movies. They use present tense as well. Are they the same reason? Breathless immediacy?
Ench
I also saw many articles in Wikipedia that are talking about the synopsis of movies. They use present tense as well. Are they the same reason? Breathless immediacy?
Ench
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EnchantedThanks, CJ and all.The way this was explained to me, many years ago, is that a movie (or book) is always in the present tense. If you watch the movie it's happen
I also saw many articles in Wikipedia that are talking about the synopsis of movies. They use present tense as well. Are they the same reason? Breathless immediacy?
Ench
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Enchantedthe synopsis of movies. They use present tense as well. Are they the same reason? Breathless immediacy?Immediacy, I'd say, whether breathless or not.
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But I do like that phrase - breathless immediacy. I'll try to fit that into my conversation this week.
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Grammar GeekI'll try to fit that into my conversation this week.Perhaps it will come up while you're balancing one of your chemical equations!
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I came across the following explanation:
The Present Simple is used to give life and colour to the telling of a story. The Past Simple does not have the same dramatic effect. That is why jokes are often told in the present.
The Present Simple is used to give life and colour to the telling of a story. The Past Simple does not have the same dramatic effect. That is why jokes are often told in the present.
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