By Negatives, Past tenses

Re: What did he say? What was it he said?

Why is it that we say, "What did he/she say?" or "What did I say?" even when it is past tense? We use 'did' in making a past tense sentence interrogative or negative, using the base form of the verb.As a follow-up question to those kind enough to answer, is there a...

Re: I used to; I’m used to

Eladio wrote:What’s the difference between these two sentences? I read both in a dictionary and I’m confused. She wasn’t used to him away but she soon got used to it. Now she is used to seeing him once in a year. She didn’t use to him away but she soon got used to it. Now she is used to seeing...

Re: did you go OR did you went

Thanks CJ for the reply. The tense is carried out by auxiliary verb in past tense, why do we need to change the past verb to bare infinity in question and negative form. such as "did you go " in other tense you dont alter verb such as "i am going" "are you going" why do we need to change the...

Re: I need your help,please.

1. "women" - use plural to match "the elderly" & "are more LIKELY" 2. The goals of our program ARE - use plural verb with plural subject 3. MANY benefits - "Much" is for stuff; "many" is for things you can count. 4. there IS a lot of space (missing verb in clause) ...

Re: simple past vs present perfect

Barb, we use 'yet' quite often with the simple past tense -- in interrogative and negative sentences. Have you forgotten sentences such as "Jeet yet?" (Did you eat yet?)

Re: will/would

As a stand-alone sentence, "would" is for the past.Actually, to split hairs, it's "would not" that's for the past. It gives the sense of "refused to". My parents wouldn't allow me to go to the party. Without the not (n't), I don't get the sense that it's a past tense. My parents would...

Re: botton or buckle my belt? and the s in verbs

Anonymous wrote:Hi, everybody I have few questions. -If I have a belt for pants do I say : "I botton my belt" or I buckle my belt?Belts usually have buckles rather than buttons, so you would normally buckle your belt. -Look at these sentences: Do you know how much a ticket concert the...

Re: is 'if' omitted here?

Loojka wrote:Both can be correct, depending on what you're trying to say.I would give anything that she 'asked' me to. - I would give anything that she wanted me to.I would give anything if she asked me to. (condition emphasized) I would not give anything, unless she asked me to.This explanation...

Re: WHICH ONE IS CORRECT

Anonymous wrote: WHICH SENTENCE IS CORRECT DID YOU FLY IN? OR DID YOU FLEW IN? When you use an auxiliary verb in the simple past tense, that is in negatives and questions, you better use bare infinitive.

Re: don't also have to do something

Two questions: 1) Is that "don't have" completely wrong? Semantically, yes. It's not a question of not having to have another verb in the past tense; it's a question of being forbidden to have another verb in the past tense. I know that when "have to" is in negative form (= not have to) it...