By Expressions, Past simple

Hi,Think of it this way.I put the phone down. The door bell did not ring sooner than that action.In other words, it rang at the same time or later.But not very much later at all, otherwise I wouldn't use this particular expression.Clive

Hi Giuseppe, and welcome!The structure you're referring to is called "inversion."Your examples fall into a singular category (that of negative/restrictive expression) which includes other expressions, such as barely, scarcely, hardly, seldom, little, never, under no circumstances,...

MrPedantic wrote: You often encounter "now" + simple past in narrative, where it denotes a reported present, e.g.Thank you MrP, yes, that is another way to use "now" with the past simple tense. But I was actually looking for more examples at the present time, not in the past. That is, "now" and...

Hi everyone, I'm back.I just posted anonymously, damn login.I said that I think it is the verb "understand" that is odd, not the structure... I don't know why. I still think "Ok, I got it now, thanks" is perfectly ok, instead.Can't you think of other examples where "now" means "this time" and it...

The expression by the time often takes the appropriate perfect tense, though it doesn't have to. The time sequence is not always relevant. (before also has this property.) I think it will probably start to rain , the theatre was already closed. CJ See also Post:281427

Biggie wrote:can anyone help me right now with some expressions in either british or american english with their meanings. not just words but expressions like...the british say here you are...and the americans say there you go. I'd start by saying that most Brits would say both 'here you are'...

CalifJim wrote:Kooyeen, Were there any other adverbs with this property (nearly always require a perfect tense in BrE)? Or just just? I'd be interested, because I think there are several. I believe already is another, for example.I was told "just, yet, already, ever, never" had to be used...

Grammarian-bot wrote:Recently I saw an ad of a multinationl company "Telenor". There was a sentenec that they repeat two or theree times in that 30 sec ad. "It's time you moved to the best".Is it gramatically correct to jump from simple present to simple past? If so, then what difference does it...

Ok I had a look at these sentences and altered a few things, so here they are again... Voila:The text in red are those 'updated' sentences and the text in dark green are my comments.1. We certainly cannot accuse Fred of being shy. Look how he enjoys talking about himself in front of television...

Anonymous wrote: Goldmund wrote: Dear sir, It is my opinion that the noise has finished. It is therefore not connected to the present. The present perfect therefore is not correct. Kind regards, Goldmund But, dear sir, "I have eaten seafood many times" and "she has been to America" are...