By Simple past, Clauses

Hello Jeeva Your example is a little misleading, as it allows for ellipsis, i.e. 1. We have been to the local supermarket and (have) bought some stationery, etc. To test for whether we can mix the present perfect with the simple past, we need to use an irregular verb for the second verb....

Siggy wrote: Seems to be that it is an adverbial clause indicating Mexico at a certain time. Hmm...so 'would' of 'would any one want' is the simple past, or something else?And how does it connect to 'describe what has happened since 1990 as aloss of competitiveness', which doesn't seem to be...

Hi, 1. Is “it” necessary after “watching” ? No, Either is OK2. It would be wrong to say “learn enjoying”, wouldn’t it ? Yes3. Do we need a comma before “who” here or should the relative clause be restrictive ? Put a comma, unless you had two mothers ( a stepmother?). ha-ha4. Is a comma needed...

Let's assume that a quote precedes this so that we have a complete sentence. "***," Susan said, weary before the evening had even begun. Instances of the past perfect in a before-clause abound, in spite of the fact that they contradict the so-called rule that the past perfect always...

Hi, Which is better: "My parents decided to rent a house on Martha's vineyard and we (all look forward) were all looking forward to three weeks of fun in the sun." The past cont. suggests your next sentence will be something like 'However, we were unable to go because we got sick'. "My...

MyShirley wrote: After I came back from England, I have lost weight. Is this sentence correct? thanks The present perfect is not compatible with the simple past here. The sequence of tenses is obligatory in time clauses. I would write: - After I came back from England, I lost weight.

Hi again, Oh, yes, sorry. I should have provided some examples. "We learnt that he has been director of the company for about ten years." Yes, to be very correct, I'd use Past Perf. here. However, you'll hear Pres. Perf. for cases where what is said is still true at the moment of speaking,...

Sorry, Eladio... All I can say is that I'm more used to ( ) hearing "used to + -ing" in the present, simple past or present perfect past than in the future. Yet I don't see why it shouldn't be correct. "To be accustomed to" seems a nice alternative. A future in the main clause + a present...

I guess this discussion invites lot of questions. Mister Micawber wrote:I don't quite know what you are up to, Hanuman, but A makes sense while B does not. Some other options: When they had given their books to the teacher, they were allowed to play outside.They were allowed to play outside...

Hi, Thousands of protesters, demanding that Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra resign, took their message to shoppers in the heart of the capital yesterday, forcing at least one luxury mall to close its doors temporarily. It seems to me that "took" changes to "taking" is more matching other...