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tommyensr  #459733  Thu, 03 Jan 08 07:58 AM

(A) Tom was a site engineer before he becomes the teacher.

(B) Tom was a site engineer before he becomes a teacher.

(C) Tom was a site engineer before he is a teacher.

Now Tom works as a teacher in a University.

Which one correct choice?

  
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Marius Hancu  #459748  Thu, 03 Jan 08 09:14 AM
>Which one correct choice?

Which one IS THE correct choice?
  
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tommyensr  #459772  Thu, 03 Jan 08 10:16 AM

i understand that you mean Tom was a site engineer before he is the teacher.

thank you for your advice

 

  
Marius Hancu  #459773  Thu, 03 Jan 08 10:20 AM
NO, I just corrected your question.

I'd suggest:

Tom was a site engineer before becoming a teacher.
  
Anonymous  #505908  Sun, 27 Apr 08 04:32 AM

Dear friends :

I am rather confused with the tense of become. If the evenrt happened in the past, it's clear to me that past tense shall be used. Such as: Tom became a teacher last year. But how about following:

The Internet becomes/ became a giant public library today.

She becomes/became old.

The weather becomes/became warm.

Somebody please help. Thank you a lot.

  
Clive  #505927  Sun, 27 Apr 08 05:40 AM

Hi,

I am rather confused with the tense of become. If the evenrt happened in the past, it's clear to me that past tense shall be used. Such as: Tom became a teacher last year. Yes. 

But how about following: I'm not sure about the nature of your confusion. I'll just comment on your examples.

The Internet becomes a giant public library today. This tells us that this is planned / scheduled to happen later today.

The Internet became a giant public library today. This tells us that this today, earlier than the time of speaking. 

Are you sure you mean 'today', or do you mean something like 'These days'., which means 'in current times'?

You also should consider Present Continous', eg 'The internet is becoming like a giant public library (these days)'. 

 

She becomes old. It's hard to think of a normal kind of context where you would say this sentence.  

Again, I wonder if you mean 'She is becoming old'.

She became old. This tells us that this happened in the past.

The weather becomes warm. You could typically say something like 'The weather becomes warm every July'.

Again, 'The weather is becoming warm'.

The weather became warm. This tells us about something that happened at some time in the past.

It might help you to consider a simpler example.

Do you know the difference between 'She cooks dinner' and 'She is cooking dinner'?

Best wishes, Clive

  
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