tenses
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New2grammar  #511358  Thu, 08 May 08 08:07 PM

Let's say you've just resolved a problem and you say the following:


 It has been troubling me because sometimes I saw past tense being used and I always wondered why.

I'm quite certain the tenses are correct but wonder if I can say the following

 It has been troubling me because sometimes I see past tense being used and I always wonder why. (and maybe
add, "Now, I feel the world has been lifted off my chest")

What do you think? If it is acceptable, how natural is it?
Thanks!

 


 
  
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badegine  #511366  Thu, 08 May 08 08:42 PM

What you've written isn't 'wrong', per se, but a far more natural version would be:

 'It's been troubling me because I sometimes see the past tense being used, but always wonder why.'
  
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New2grammar  #511368  Thu, 08 May 08 08:51 PM

Thanks badegine for your reply.
This is probably a difficult question to answer but I'm going to ask anyway.

Why is 'but' more natural than 'and' in this context?
  
badegine  #511371  Thu, 08 May 08 08:58 PM
Not at all.

'but' sounds more natural because you're dealing with a sentence with a negative implication: 'I see it used but I'm challenging why it is.'

If you were to agree with it, 'and' can be used - in a sentence such as 'I see it used and I'm sure that's correct.'

Does this make sense? It isn't a very big issue at all, but I guess it all helps a learner.

Any further help you need with anything, I'm here.

 

  
Grammar Geek  #511372  Thu, 08 May 08 09:07 PM

N2G, if you have resolved it, then don't say "It has been troubling me." Say "It had been troubling me."

In your second sentence, your tenses are consistent only if the doubt has not been resolved.

  
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New2grammar  #511374  Thu, 08 May 08 09:09 PM

Thanks badegine. Yes, I think I understand why you prefer to use 'but'. I see it as two independent actions, "I see it used" and then "I wonder why". While you see the second action as a resulting negative thought. Interesting :)
  
New2grammar  #511376  Thu, 08 May 08 09:16 PM

I hate myself for not being able to be precise. I mean, in my mind I wanted to say "I have just
resolved it" but when I put my thought into words, I omitted 'just'. Does that make any difference now?
I know it's grammatically correct to use the past perfect tense but can I choose to use the
present perfect tense if the matter is resolved just a nanosecond ago?
  
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Kooyeen  #511388  Thu, 08 May 08 09:53 PM
Oh, geez... let's face it: every learner hates the present perfect continuous! Angry

I would say "It's been bothering me" is ok if you are referring to NOW in some way, so it's ok if you are solving the problem NOW or you solved it just NOW ("just now" is basically still "now", if you want to see it that way)
And "It had been bothering me" is ok if you are referring to the past. One week ago, yesterday, or even "just now", if you want to consider what happened just now as something in the past.

As you see, it seems complicated to me, LOL Stick out tongue

EDIT: seeing your original question, if the problem is solved and the trouble is over, maybe you'd better say "It had been bothering...", to stress it's part of the past, it's over, and you solved it (<- past).
  
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New2grammar  #511390  Thu, 08 May 08 10:09 PM

I was so glad before you edited your post!

Let me provide an example and see if you're OK with the use of the present perfect

A: Yes! We've finally solved this flaw. Now the robot is moving around autonomously and we're ready for tomorrow's competition.

B: I'm so glad! What a relief. The design of the control system has been troubling me and sometimes, when I look at the equations I wonder why the second variable is a function of y2.

You know what? In this example I've just made up, I prefer the past perfect. Gosh. Anyway, do you think the present present is OK too?

I guess GG has swayed me.
  
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