Enchanted  +  850322 Thu, 06 Aug 09 09:31 PM hi, When reading novels, i noticed that some were written in past tense, some in present tense. I'd like to know. what is the difference between this two formal, and why authors choose one of them? thanks, Ench Enchanted Joined on Thu, Jul 5 2007 Full Member 114 Enchanted Difference Between, Tenses, Present Tenses, Past Tenses

	ferdis  +  850346 Thu, 06 Aug 09 09:47 PM Authors choose one or the other because they think it will allow them to tell their story better. The past tense is someone telling a story that has already happened, while for the present tense the story is still on-going. A very common choice is to write the narrative in the past tense and the dialogue in the present tense. For more information you could look up "narrative stance" on the internet. ferdis Joined on Tue, Aug 4 2009 The Netherlands Full Member 388 Tenses, Present Tenses, Past Tenses, Online

	Philip  +  850382 Thu, 06 Aug 09 10:21 PM ferdis has explained very well what happens here.  An inexperienced writer should not attempt to "play" with the tenses. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,738 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Tenses

	Enchanted  +  850638 Fri, 07 Aug 09 02:31 AM Both, I search on the net, it seems not too much material I found talking about this. When you say, don't play with the tense, it is a little beyond my understanding as to the definition of play. links would be appretiated. thanks, Ench Enchanted Tenses, Speaking, Chat, Friendships

	pkr  +  851056 Fri, 07 Aug 09 09:37 AM Enchanted “ I search on the net, it seems not too much material I found talking about this. ” I believe this is what you are looking for: http://gato-docs.its.txstate.edu/slac/Subject/Writing/Documentation-and-the-Writing-Process/Verb-Tense-for-Analysis-of-Literature-and-History/Verb%20Tense%20for%20Analysis%20of%20Literature%20and%20History.pdf    pkr Joined on Mon, Jun 29 2009 New Member 27 Tenses, Speaking, Chat, Friendships