[title]Family quotes[/title] [description]Welcome to our family quotes section! Here you'll find some of the funniest (and wisest) quotes on the subject of family life![/description]
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Latest post Sun, Nov 1 2009 3:46 AM by janeleo. 2 replies.
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uktous  +  958549 Sun, 01 Nov 09 02:56 AM
hi,
In the following paragraph, there are more than 1 tense.
Any problem.?

No need to amend my paragraph.
I just worry more than 1 tense in the sane paragragh
Thx


Paragraph
When I was a teacher, I showed my teaching skills. I taught 50 students.
I am good at explaining maths.


sentence 1
When I was a teacher, I showed my teaching skills. (past tense)

sentence 2
I taught 50 students. (past tense)

sentence 3
I am good at explaining maths. (present tense)

Joined on Mon, Oct 26 2009
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Clive  +  958564 Sun, 01 Nov 09 03:35 AM
Hi,

There is no rule that you can only use one tense in a paragraph. That sounds like a crazy idea to a native speaker.


Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,654
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
janeleo  +  958570 Sun, 01 Nov 09 03:46 AM
hi, uktous.

 

In my opinion, it's ok to use more than one tense in your paragraph.It all depends on what really you want to emphasize.

 

Here, you use the present tense in I am good at explaining maths.

        Present tense often refers to the fact and the truth ( your ability), and the fact last forever ,it (your ability to explain)won't change with time.

 

If you use past tense --> I was good at explaining maths. Past tense usually refers to the past instead of now and continuous condition. If you use past tense here, it means that you was good at... before, but now you are not good at and you lose this kind of ability to explain well in maths.  

Joined on Tue, Oct 6 2009
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