Tenses

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Anonymous  #521115  Sat, 31 May 08 01:27 AM

Hi,

Please tell me if tenses are proper.

1.Setting a meeting date:

Hi, I was told that Jane and Joe agreed to have the next meeting on January 16th as I had suggested in the letter I wrote on Janurary 2nd. I feel had I had suggested the date of January 18, they wouldn't have agree to that date since it is likely that they would (not 'wil' correct??)l be going on a trip on that day.   

2. Planning for a task:

I  am going to work on this project on 2 p.m. this afternoon after I finish lunch. It will most likely take two hours to complete and I know that my uncle will be coming home at 3 p.m. When my uncle comes home, it is likely I will be working on my project and he will be coming in in the middle of my working on it. When my grand father comes home at 6 p.m. I will be no longer working on my project but I would have long finished my project and would have been sitting in my sofa, sipping a cold cup of cola, watching my favorite soap drama. I am looking forward to the time when I will be sitting in my sofa doing what I always like to do, sipping cola and watching my favorite soap.  

  
Marius Hancu  #521126  Sat, 31 May 08 02:09 AM
 What is the date of your reporting/writing in 1?
  
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CalifJim  #521129  Sat, 31 May 08 02:14 AM
Hi, I was told that Jane and Joe agreed to have the next meeting on January 16th as I had suggested in the letter I wrote on my letter of Janurary 2nd. I feel that, had had I suggested the date of January 18, they wouldn't have agreed to that date since it is likely that they would likely have been be going on a trip on that day.

CJ 

  
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CalifJim  #521135  Sat, 31 May 08 02:28 AM
I  am going to work on this project on at 2 p.m. this afternoon after I finish lunch. It will most likely take two hours to complete. and I know that my uncle will be coming home at 3 p.m. When my uncle comes home at 3 p.m., it is likely I will still be working on my project. and he will be coming in in the middle of my working on it. When my grand father grandfather comes home at 6 p.m. I will be no longer be working on my project. but I would will have long finished my project and would will have been be sitting in on my sofa, sipping a cold cup of cola, watching my favorite soap drama. I am looking forward to the time when I will be sitting in on my sofa doing what I always like to do, sipping cola and watching my favorite soap.

Suggested changes in blue.

Strongly suggested changes in red.

CJ 

  
Anonymous  #521158  Sat, 31 May 08 03:41 AM

Thank you for your help.

Why did you suggest this change? Is 'had suggested' good enough as a flash-back (seems to be  the term someone has used in this forum)? 

Your revisional work on this setence:

Hi, I was told that Jane and Joe agreed to have the next meeting on January 16th as I had suggested in the letter I wrote on my letter of Janurary 2nd 

Thank you. 

  
CalifJim  #521197  Sat, 31 May 08 07:49 AM
It's in blue, so it's just an alternate possibility, not a requirement that you change it.

I suggested the change because the dates already make the time sequence clear.

Further, the briefer terms your letter of, my letter of, etc. followed by the date are typical in business letters.

CJ 

  
Anonymous  #521254  Sat, 31 May 08 11:43 AM

Thank you again. I hope you will answer these if possible.

What is the difference? I think 'would be' can be used to denote a past action just like ' would have been'.

.... they wouldn't have agreed (on that date) since it is likely that they would be going on a trip that day.

..., they wouldn't have agreed (on that date) since they would likely have been on a trip that day.    

To me, the phrases 'on that day' and 'that day' are both correct.

  
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