ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: tenses

Newguest — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:25:37 GMT

Thank you!

Re: tenses

Mister Micawber — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:46:55 GMT

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Yes, I don't think had been works at all there.

Says...will be
Said...would be

Re: tenses

Newguest — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:01:32 GMT

Mister Micawber
.

A press release issued today says that security issues were/are/have been one of the chief topics of the talks.

In this case "had been" is incorrect?

But it would also be correct to say: ..will be one of the chief topics of the talks. (although it was supposed to be the past tense)

Thanks

Re: tenses

Mister Micawber — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:36:48 GMT

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Were is also correct because there is no real confusion about the order of the past events. Says is common journalistic (historical present) narrative, but I don't like it here because it is inserted between two past tenses-- very sloppy. I suppose that if you keep it, you could use present perfect-- or present-- besides past:

A press release issued today says that security issues were/are/have been one of the chief topics of the talks.

It all depends on whether the talks were finished at the time.

Re: tenses

Newguest — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:24:56 GMT

OK, so I should use "said" and then either "were" or "had been". Actually I understand the usage of the past perfect (because it happened before) and I'm not sure why "were" is also correct?

And if we left "says," i.e., A press release issued today says that security issues .. (and now the second part should be in the past)

I'm quoting this example because in one of my books on business English the example starts precisely: A press release issued today SAYS .. (and then I'm supposed to write the second part of the sentence in the past tense)

Re: tenses

Mister Micawber — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:03:34 GMT

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And what about 'says'?

I suggest:

(A press release issued today said that / The spokesman informed the press that) security issues were/had been one of the chief topics of the talks.

tenses

Newguest — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:08:08 GMT

A press release issude today says that security issues were/had been/have been one of the chief topics of the talks.

--- I suppose that "were" and "had been" are correct?

If I start the sentence: The spokesman informed that .. will anything change as far as the tenses are concerned?

Thanks