When my teacher corrects my writing, he has said many times...

Share on Facebook

SpoonfedBaby

#133599 Sun, 04 Sep 05 12:02 AM

Hello everybody, Smile [:)]

Please, comment on this sentence:

When my teacher corrects my writing, he has said many times that it is too formal.

Do the verb tenses of the principal and the subordinate clash (between them)?

SFB

SpoonfedBaby

Joined on Sat, Aug 14 2004

Canada (Chinese-Vietnamese, once upon a time )

Full Member (152)

Tenses, Verbs

paco2004

#133643 Sun, 04 Sep 05 04:22 AM

Hello SFB

I would say like:

When my teacher corrects my writing, he often says that it is too formal.

This present tense is so called 'habitual present' and can imply both past and present (and even future) events.

paco

paco2004

Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004

Senior Member (4,095)

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

CalifJim

#133861 Sun, 04 Sep 05 05:47 PM

I see what you mean. There is a slight clash there. Paco's version is better. Another possibility, but also somewhat awkward, is, "When my teacher has corrected my writing, ..."

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,549)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions