By Constructions, Simple past

Bokeh wrote: Grammar Geek wrote: Are you saying that the simple past is not used for recent events in BrE? What about:I think I saw a ghost! GG, that example has different context. You are specifically stating that the sighting is over; if it were not you would use the present tense: I think...

Hi, Grammar Geek! Thank you!!! But I have other questions concerning to this verb ' I'd rather '(= prefer). Well, in the sentence below in spite of the verb is prefer to, the idea of it is in the simple present,so when the verb to prefer is being used in the simple present or simple past...

Let's go back to the original sentence: 1. He thought his mother would understand why he was living in Japan only if she saw his life there with her own eyes. If we take this as a literal report, there are two possible "originals": 2. "My mother will understand why I am living in Japan...

Hi Bokeh, Becasue of your reply, it made me take a second look at the original question. I also did some research and found this paper written on the subject of Semantic Composition of Subjunctive Conditionals by Michela Ippolito of MIT/Tübingen University. I am not completely sure if I...

Yankee wrote:Hi GoodmanYou can look at "to welcome someone with open arms" as an idiom. This idiom contains the verb 'welcome'. Simple past tense, active voice: They welcomed him with open arms.Simple past tense, passive voive: He was welcomed with open arms (by them). 'Welcomed' is a past...

References

According to The Oxford Companion to the English Language, "were" is usually used in "if I were you." But in other cases it has been replaced by "was", bringing it in line with other verbs, where the simple past tense is used for expressing hypotheses about the past and future, eg "if I only...

Because you specified when you sent it (last week) you should use the simple past - that I sent last week. Generally, use the "have sent" construction when you do NOT say when it happened.

The blast occurred as locals were on their way to market near Vadamunai, a village about 70km (45 miles) north-west of the town of Batticaloa. The rebels have blamed the military for the explosion. A military spokesman denied the allegation. The deaths come a day before rebels and...

I'm not Clive, obviously, but I think when you have a construction like the following, you need past perfect: By the time I . ==> By the time I arrived, he had left. Clive, is that right?