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PonyFan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Why present tense?


You're just buttering me up so I give you the extra ticket.
Could I get you to tell me why the present tense is chosen for the verb in the sentence. "I will give you..." or "I would give you..." seems suitable to me. Thanks in advance!

The line is quoted from http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Transcripts/The_Ticket_Master
  

Top answer

PonyFan why the present tense is chosen In the given context, "so I give" is a more casual, informal, conversational form of "so I'll give". The pattern is probably most often seen in sentences that describe some kind of reciprocal interpersonal action. ) just or only has to be present to make it work.

— CalifJim

  • PonyFan why the present tense is chosen In the given context, "so I give" is a more casual, informal, conversational form of "so I'll give".
  • The pattern is probably most often seen in sentences that describe some kind of reciprocal interpersonal action.
  • ) just or only has to be present to make it work.
  • She's just being nice so I invite her to the wedding.
  • I'm just telling him he's talented so he feels better about himself.
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4 Answers
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PonyFanwhy the present tense is chosen
In the given context, "so I give" is a more casual, informal, conversational form of "so I'll give". The pattern is probably most often seen in sentences that describe some kind of reciprocal interpersonal action. (I only do this so that you do that, and not for any other reason.) just or only has
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Does that sort of form is commonplace in conversations?
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It's a fairly arbitrary speaker choice. In formal English "I will give" might be preferred (though of course this example is not a formal sentence), but conversationally both "I give" and "I will / I'll give" can be used more or less interchangeably in this context. "I would give" does not work so well.

(Cross-posted.)
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PonyFanDoes Is that sort of form is commonplace in conversations?
Not really. Only in the context described above.

CJ
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