It's (present or past tense)

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Teo

#484260 Mon, 03 Mar 08 03:59 AM

It's lucky that no one was hurt.

Janet's lucky the car didn't hit her.

What tense is 's in It's and Janet's, is or was?

Joined on Tue, Sep 28 2004

Taiwan

Contributing Member (1,631)

Thank you very much for your reply.

Anonymous

#484262 Mon, 03 Mar 08 04:06 AM

It's the present tense.

The contraction 's represents is and has but never was.

JJM

Anonymous

Teo

#484275 Mon, 03 Mar 08 05:10 AM

1. It is lucky that no one was hurt. / Janet is lucky the car didn't hit her.

2. It was lucky that no one was hurt. / Janet was lucky the car didn't hit her.

What's the diiference in meaning between #1 and #2?

Clive

#484280 Mon, 03 Mar 08 05:34 AM

Hi,

1. It is lucky that no one was hurt. / Janet is lucky the car didn't hit her.

2. It was lucky that no one was hurt. / Janet was lucky the car didn't hit her.

What's the diiference in meaning between #1 and #2?

Generally speaking, in #1 the luck is seen as extending into the present.

eg Janet is lucky the car didn't hit her. She has to dance in Swan Lake tonight.

eg Janet was lucky the car didn't hit her. She had to dance in Swan Lake that night in 1975.

Best wishes, Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,220)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo