The book is written 200 years ago.

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PASTEL

#77077 Sun, 27 Feb 05 07:00 PM

1-The book is written 200 years ago.
2-The book was written 200 years ago.

Number two is more correct becuase the telephone was invented by Bell. Would you consider number one is also acceptable as a general fact?

Thanks,
Pastel

PASTEL

Joined on Thu, Jul 1 2004

Regular Member (541)

Numbers

paco2004

#77107 Sun, 27 Feb 05 11:40 PM

I don't think number one is acceptable.

In English the phrase 'X years ago' is almost always used in the past tense.
(x) The book is written 200 years ago.
(o) The book was written 200 years ago.
You may say:
(o) This is a book written 200 years ago.
But it is actually a contracted form of:
This is a book that/which was written 200 years ago.

paco

[PS]
I myself am an English learner and so you should not be sure I am right.
But if I make a mistake in answering, our moderators will correct it.
So you can wait to see whether they will come to correct.

paco2004

Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004

Senior Member (4,095)

In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.

Tenses, Numbers, Past tenses

PASTEL

#77193 Mon, 28 Feb 05 09:49 AM

Hi, Paco!

I like your answer. It makes perfect sense.

Thanks,
Pastel

PASTEL

Casi

#77239 Mon, 28 Feb 05 12:15 PM

I agree with Paco.

The book was written. (if the book is 200 years old, then it was written in the past)
The book is old. (if the book was written 200 years ago, then it is an old book)

Casi

Joined on Sat, Sep 25 2004

Regular Member (547)

PASTEL

#77310 Mon, 28 Feb 05 07:16 PM

Thank you, Cassie. Smile [:)]

What about,

1- Beethoven was a great composer.
2- Beethoven is a great composer.

Though number one is just fine, I think two is ok if you are stating a simple fact. He was great and his music is still wonderful.

Pastel

PASTEL

Numbers

Casi

#77515 Tue, 01 Mar 05 11:25 AM

Well, I'm not sure if you've heard the news, but Beethoven is . . . dead. Sorry. OK, seriously, though, I think you've made a good point, say, Pat and Max are playing a trivia game:

Max: Name a great composer.
Pat: Beethoven is a great composer.

Casi

paco2004

#77526 Tue, 01 Mar 05 12:18 PM

Hello Pastel

English 'be' has several meanings.
One and two is three. (be [is]= equal)
I am in Tokyo ( be [am] =exist = live)
When you say "Beethoven is a great composer", you are saying "Beethoven = a great composer".
When you say "Beethoven was a great composer", you are saying "Beethoven = a great compose, but he wad dead"
"Beethoven was a great composer" would be more scientific as a way of speaking, but by "Beethoven is a great composer", I feel your admiration to Beethoven is stronger.

paco

paco2004

Miche

#77530 Tue, 01 Mar 05 12:34 PM

Hi all,
Have you watched The Barber of Siberia? I strongly recommend it! In the movie, the sentence "Mozart is a great composer" is repeated at least 20 times!
I think it is perfectly OK. This is use of the present simple to describe general truth (hardly anybody will deny that Mozart is great).

Miche

Joined on Fri, Jan 7 2005

Full Member (258)

There's always sunshine after rain

Present simple

PASTEL

#77613 Tue, 01 Mar 05 06:56 PM

I like your game, Sir.

PASTEL

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