ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Tenses

Anonymous — Sat, 31 May 2008 10:43:32 GMT

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.

Re: Tenses

CalifJim — Sat, 31 May 2008 06:49:36 GMT

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.

Re: Tenses

Anonymous — Sat, 31 May 2008 02:41:52 GMT

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.

Re: Tenses

CalifJim — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:28:22 GMT

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.

Re: Tenses

CalifJim — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:14:08 GMT

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.

Re: Tenses

Marius Hancu — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:09:07 GMT

What is the date of your reporting/writing in 1?

Tenses

Anonymous — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:27:45 GMT

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.