By Constructions, Simple past

In this context, "until now" strongly suggests that he has just moved, is in the process of moving, or is just about to move. So, the question is: does the choice of "was" or "has been" influence this range of possibilities? The presence or absence of...

Hi Anon, We are not particularly interested in finding if someone is happy with our answers. So “I‘d be happy if…” does sound aweful to my ears. I had made this comment before and I am not sure you were the same poster. But I would make another attempt to make this point. If you want to be...

You will often hear the construction of the first sentence; I prefer the second, as you do.

Grammar Geek wrote: Because with words like "should" - realize that how English is used will vary, without one being wrong and one being right. It seems that Americans are more likely to use simple past when either would do, but the present perfect is alive and well. So, that said, where have...

Lin1978 wrote:Thank you, Master Yankee. Your answer is quite clear. But I still have one small question. Last time my teacher told me that, "if I have two different subjects in a main clause and in a conditional, and I want to use the participle phrase, I have to keep both two subjects or change...

Well, I was saying that according to that explanation the simple past would always be wrong in that construction. But that's not true, because if I add some info, the simple past is ok:Three years had passed since we had seen each other. <--- past perfectThree years had passed since we each...

Milky wrote:I was asking about the difference between the two regarding Aspect.I thought I'd answered that above. "Used to" is imperfect, or if you want to use the word aspect, imperfective aspect, used in this case to denote an ongoing state (not being allowed to drink coffee). "Were" on the...

Which of the two would you say is in use here? ??? Is this a Type 2 Conditional? Yes. ... would ... if ... 1. It would be better/nicer if you spent your time studying rather than idling around. I am not sure if the above sentence is correct It's fine. but I think I am hearing a...

Hi Musesun"This forbidden to make money in the university" is not a correct sentence. The word "forbidden" is not a tense at all -- it is just the past participle (V3) of the verb 'forbid'. You can say "This is forbidden", but you cannot say "This forbidden".Have you learned how to make...

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...