The link from MrM is very useful. As a simple explanation for the beginning student, I recommend that one use when with the simple past and while with the past continuous. This is an oversimplification, but exposure to native writing and

Hi, I'd change these: 5. The sun was eclipsed by the moon. ACTIVE PASSIVE 9. This bone has been buried by the dog . PASSIVE 10. It takes a long time to think of these examples . PASSIVE ACTIVE 13. There was a cup of coffee on the table but now

Hi, Both 'thought' and 'fixed' are past tense. The fact that the car is, in the present, fixed or not doesn't change your word choice for this sentence. You are correct when you say the past tense ' thought ' is to

Hi Clive, Thanks for taking the time on my query. I guess what I had in mind when I used "had taken computer science for 2 semesters.." rather than the simple "took" was the deliberate intent to emphasize the duration I had

Since there is no direct time frame specified, one can only assume that this conversation has come to past. Based on the logic process going in my head, as far as C's reason for being late is concerned, I would say this: " The reason

Hi, Situation: We (A and B) are waiting for a friend (C). Is the underlined I see no underlining expression okay in the above situation? A: We've been waiting for C for a long time. OK B: I don't know what has happened to C. keeps

Situation: We (A and B) are waiting for a friend (C). Is the underlined expression okay in the above situation? A: We've been waiting for C for a long time. B: I don't know what happened to C. A: I can't wait any longer. I have to go

I have a better idea: I'll give you a short story, and then you write it in different tenses, and we'll check your efforts. Here's one in past tense; please change it to present: The Ant and the Grasshopper In a field one summer's day a

'Have' has far too many uses to examine on this thread. Here is one dictionary's list: HAVE –verb (used with object) 1. to possess; own; hold for use; contain: He has property. The work has an index. 2. to hold, possess, or accept in some

I told my mom she has gotten a ticket for not speaking English. OR I told my mom she had gotten a ticket for not speaking English. What's the difference between the two sentences? I know one is present perfect and the other past perfect but