Tense usage

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jack112

#320566 Sat, 27 Jan 07 06:57 AM

Are both of these correct?

What does it mean when I use present tense?
1. He must have had a great big laugh when he came up with the idea of having the entire heat of the computer's processor being adsorbed into the person's legs as they sit and use it.

What does it mean when I use past tense?
2. He must have had a great big laugh when he came up with the idea of having the entire heat of the computer's processor being adsorbed into the person's legs as they sat and used it.

Thanks.

jack112

Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004

Regular Member (715)

Clive

#320572 Sat, 27 Jan 07 07:10 AM

Hi Jack,

They are both correct.

#1 suggests to me that people are still doing this (ie sitting and absorbing) today.

#2 does not make any suggestion about this. Maybe they are doing this today, maybe not.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,577)

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

Tenses

jack112

#320711 Sat, 27 Jan 07 06:13 PM

For beginners, is #2 a better sentence because sentences should be either all past tense or all present tense?

Also is #2 referring to the time when he thought about it, thus all past tense?

Thanks.

jack112

Tenses, Present Tenses, Past Tenses

Clive

#320714 Sat, 27 Jan 07 06:26 PM

Hi Jack,

For beginners, is #2 a better sentence because sentences should be either all past tense or all present tense? I don't think it's good to think this way about tenses. eg I studied history last year but next year I will study math. This is one sentence, with two tenses, and it's fine and normal.

Also is #2 referring to the time when he thought about it, thus all past tense? Yes, you can think of it that way.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Tenses, Present Tenses, Past Tenses

jack112

#320849 Sun, 28 Jan 07 06:12 AM

In January, 2007 ownership decided that the cost of repairing the roof was too high, and instead plan to demolish the structure and redevelop the site. (I got this off an article. Is 'plan' supposed to be 'plans'? What is the subject for 'plan' ?)

jack112