ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: she's talking about or talked about

Grammar Geek — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:11:24 GMT

N2G,

The expression "X know(s) what (I/he/she/they) (am/is/are) talking about" is idiomatic. You don't have to be actually speaking at that very minute. It just means that the person is knowledgable.

You should go ask Dad. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to cars. -- It doesn't mean he's talking now, or even that he's spoken about cars any time in the last week, but when he does talk about them, he's right.

Re: she's talking about or talked about

New2grammar — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:10:12 GMT

You're using direct speech (the sentence in bold

Thanks YoongLiat. It totally makes sense to me now! :)

Thanks Optilang. I understand it's sometimes difficult to explain something that's so natural to you. Thanks for trying and I totally appreciate your constant help.

Re: she's talking about or talked about

Yoong Liat — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:01:48 GMT

I walked to the nurse desk and asked for a bottled water and one of the nurses told me that I couldn't take any liquid before surgery. Instead, she told me to get some rest. I walked back to my room and told my mom. Mom said, "Sounds like she knows what she's talking about."

You're using direct speech (the sentence in bold). This means that what you are talking about happened not long ago and therefore the present continuous tense is fine. When someone asks you to have some food and you have eaten earlier, you will turn down the offer, saying, "No thanks. I have eaten." You've to use the present perfedt tense, not the past perfect tense.

I hope this gives you a clear picture why the present tense is used for something which has taken place recently.

Re: she's talking about or talked about

optilang — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:58:40 GMT

Yes I see

But you proposed - sounds like she knows what she talked about - and this doesn't work for me.

Sounds like she knew what she was talking about -ok

Sounds like she knows what she is talking about - ok

We wouldn't say - Sounds like she is knowing what she talked about.

If I give a presentation at a meeting, after the meeting I know what I talked about.

But when we use the phrase, to know what you're talking about, it means that you know your subject.

So - she knows/knew what she is/was talking about = she knows/knew her subject.

Any clearer, or have I confused you more? Apologies in advance if I have!

Re: she's talking about or talked about

New2grammar — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:40:17 GMT

Maybe the purpose of my second example isn't clear. I was just trying to emphasize the fact that the conversation took place in the past. So when referring to the past exchanges, we should use the past tense. Similarly, the act of the nurse telling the patient was in the past so when one refers to the act, logically, the past tense should be used like "My dog bit me" and not" My dog is biting me". I'm not sure if my explanation makes any sense to you. The focus is the timeline.

Re: she's talking about or talked about

optilang — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:34:08 GMT

In your first example Mr X is the Nurse. You are you. and Mum is your sister

All a bit strange, but there you have it

Re: she's talking about or talked about

optilang — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:32:21 GMT

New2grammar
Let's say X tell you something and when you get home, you tell your sister, "Mr.X told me about ~~or tells me about"~~, which is correct?

I would choose the past tense. The same reasoning for my original.

Then your sister might say - "sounds like Mr X knows what he is talking about!

Re: she's talking about or talked about

New2grammar — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:28:35 GMT

This is confusing. Let's say X tell you something and when you get home, you tell your sister, "Mr.X told me about or tells me about", which is correct?

I would choose the past tense. The same reasoning for my original.

Re: she's talking about or talked about

Yoong Liat — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:23:04 GMT

Mom said, "Sounds like she knows what she's talking about."

'She knows what she is talking about' means 'She knows what you have to do.' It doesn't imply that your mother was near the nurse when she told you what you should do.

Re: she's talking about or talked about

optilang — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:12:06 GMT

But I don't think you can have "Sounds like she knows what she talked about" in this context - doesn't sound right to me

Re: she's talking about or talked about

New2grammar — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:03:56 GMT

I have no problem with the past tense because clearly it was something in the past.

With the present tense, it sounds like the nurse is telling/has just told the person in front of his/her mother when she makes the comment.

Re: she's talking about or talked about

optilang — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:57:48 GMT

What she's talking about

Mum said that it sounded like she knew what she was talking about

A grammar expert will tell you why

but for me

it's all in the present - sounds like she knows she's talking about

although I think you could have

Sounds like she knows what she was talking about

she's talking about or talked about

New2grammar — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:44:38 GMT

I walked to the nurse desk and asked for a bottled water and one of the nurses told me that I couldn't take any liquid before surgery. Instead, she told me to get some rest. I walked back to my room and told my mom. Mom said, "Sounds like she knows what she['s talking about/talked about]." Which is correct and why?

Thanks in advance!