correct tenses & why

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Anonymous

#350074 Thu, 12 Apr 07 08:40 PM

Hi Gurus, would you kindly tell me if these tenses are correct & why?

While I was waiting in line, the woman ahead of me asked if I'd heard about the president's being shot. (past progessive. Action in progress at specific past time & second action interrupted it.) I told her she must be mistaken. (simple present. not sure why ??) This is America, I said. (simple present. not sure why ??) Such things have never happened here. (simple past. action in the past)

Many thanks!

Anonymous

Simple past, Simple present, Tenses

Fleder_m@u_S

#350345 Fri, 13 Apr 07 11:17 AM

Hi,
Im not a guru here, but I still would like to join you in this.

While I was waiting in line, the woman ahead of me asked if I'd heard about the president's being shot. (past progessive. Action in progress at specific past time & second action interrupted it.) I told her she must/ might be mistaken. ( I think it should be simple past because of reported speech) " This is America", I said. (simple present. Direct speech) "Such things have never happened here."

"Said" is an action in the past, but "This is America." and "Such things have never happened here." are in present tense because they're present facts when they were said.