Search results for 'tag:Present tenses tag:Verbs' matching tags 'Present tenses' and 'Verbs'

Re: When

Clive — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:42:42 GMT

Hi,

It might be helpful to you if I first try to summarize the comments on as/when/while by Michael Swan in his very useful book, 'Practical English Usage'. I think it's possible you may have already looked at this, but here it is anyway.

To talk about actions or situations that take place at the seame time, we can use as/when/while. There are some differences.
1. Backgrounds: as/when/while
We can use all 3 to introduce a longer background action or situation, which is going on when something else happens.
As I was having a shower, the phone rang.
The phone rang when I was havng a shower.
While I was having a shower, the phone rang.

All 3 clauses can go at the beginning or the end, but 'as' clauses usually introduce less important information and most often go at the beginning.

A progressive tense is usually used for the longer background action. But as/while can be used with a simple tense, especially with verbs like sit/lie/grow that refer to a continuous action or state.
As I sat in front of the TV, the phone rang.

3. Simultaneous long actions: while/as

We usually say as/while to show that 2 longer actions or situations went on at the same time. You can use progressive or simple tenses.

While you were sleeping, I was working.
Mary cooked dinner while I watched TV.

'As' is used (with simple tenses) to talk about 2 situations which develop or change together.
As I get older, I get more optimistic.

We prefer 'when' to refer to ages and periods of life.
When I was a child, we lived in Britain. (Not As/While I was a child. . . )

His parents died when he was ten. (Not while he was ten)

3. Simultaneous short actions: (just ) as; (just) when

We usually use (just) as to say that 2 short actions happen at the same time.
As I opened my eyes, I heard a strange voice.
Mary always arrives just as I start work.

(Just) when is also possible.
I thought of it just when you opened your mouth.

4. Reduced clauses with 'when' and 'while'.

It's often possible to omit 'subject + be' after 'when', especially when it means 'whenever', and also after 'while'.
Don't forget to signal when turning right ie when (you are) turning right.
Start when ready ie when (you are) ready.
While in Japan, he learned Japanese. ie while (he was) in Japan.

Now, I'll try to comment on your questions. These are my comments, not Swan's. I haven't refered back to Swan to review my answers. I've just answered from the point of view of an ordinary native speaker.

I'm greatful for your answers. However, I'm still unclear about their usage. Here are my questions:
1.
(1)He carelessly stepped on Jenny's foot while he danced with her.
(2)He carelessly stepped on Jenny's foot while he was dancing with her.

What is the subtle difference in meaning between #1 and #2? #2 suggests more that he did not just dance with her for a short time.

(3)He carelessly stepped on Jenny's foot when he danced with her.
(4)He carelessly stepped on Jenny's foot when he was dancing with her.

What is the difference between #3 and #4? Same comment.

2."While we cleaned the windows, they swept the floor."
(1)Do the two activities sound short or what does it emphasize? No. They just sound complete.
(2)The difference between 'while we were cleaning' and 'while we cleaned' can apply to 'as we were cleaning' and 'as we cleaned' and 'when we were cleaning' and 'when we cleaned'? Yes.

3."It was dark as he was walking home from work."
(1)I am confused why 'as' is ok here because there aren't two actions in the sentence. It's probably because the verb 'be' is special. Here, it describes an ongoing state.
(2)Can I say
"It was dark when/while/as he walked home from work." Yes

4.If 'when' means 'whenever' can I use 'while' or 'as' instead of 'when'? For example,
(1)When/while/As you are traveling, it is normal to have the runs sometimes. 'When/while' sound OK. 'As' doesn't sound so good to me. It also sounds a bit like it might mean 'because'.

Can I use simple present tense here, as in
(2)When/While/As you travel, it is normal to have the runs sometimes. Same comment as just above.

What is the difference between '#1 and #2 #2 stresses duration a bit more.

5.If the same person does two actions during the same period of time, Sould I use while, when or 'as here? Here are three pairs of examples, which is correct in the pairs?

(1)John~~is often whistling~~ when/while/as he is walking. Continuous does not sound correct here, because 'often' refers to a habit, which is best described by a simple tense.
(2)He often whistles when/while/as he walks. I prefer 'while'.

(3)The students took notes while/when/as they listened.
(4)The students were taking notes while/when/as they were listening.
(If the actions happened some time ago) 'When' does not sound good here. It sems to suggest that sometimes the students were not listening. Like'whenever'.

If the actions are happening right now, can I say
(5)The students are taking notes while/when/as they are listening.
or
(6)The students take notes while/when/as they listen.
The tense does not make any difference. Same comments as just above.

6.When it comes to 'age' can I use 'while'? For example,
'When she was only five years old, she could speak three languages.'
Can I use 'while' here instead of 'when? No. See Swan's comment on this.

7.'I thought of it just when you opened your mouth.'

I think 'when' means 'at the time that' here and the two actions happened at the same time. Can I use 'as' instead of 'when' as in
'I thought of it just as you opened your mouth.' Yes.

By the way, what does 'subject to' mean in 'subject to my comments above'?

It means 'Consider my comments above'. 'Yes, subject to my comments above' means "The answer is 'Yes', but only to the extent allowed by my comments above".

Clive

Re: That grew?

Clive — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:35:14 GMT

Hi,
This is on page 660 #17 on the SAT OG Book.
One of the brackets is suppose to contain an error.

[Crossing and recrossing] the stream, stepping on or over slippery rocks, and [following] a trail [that grew] steeper and steeper, the hikers soon realized [how challenging] their day would be. [no error]

The correct answer is [no error] but isn't [that grew] wrong? No. "That grew steeper . . .' is a subordinate clause that describes 'trail'.

All the other verbs are in present tense, except this one. Or can the others be gerunds? No, they are not. The first 3 are present participles acting as adjectives to describe 'the hikers'. 'Challenging' describes 'day'.
eg Smiling, he walked into the room.

can you explain a little about gerunds? In simple terms, a gerund is the noun form of a verb, and can be used in the same manner as a noun.
eg I like chocolate.
eg I like walking.
eg I like eating chocolate.

Best wishes, Clive

That grew?

theooo — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:23:22 GMT

This is on page 660 #17 on the SAT OG Book.
One of the brackets is suppose to contain an error.

[Crossing and recrossing] the stream, stepping on or over slippery rocks, and [following] a trail [that grew] steeper and steeper, the hikers soon realized [how challenging] their day would be. [no error]

The correct answer is [no error] but isn't [that grew] wrong? All the other verbs are in present tense, except this one. Or can the others be gerunds? can you explain a little about gerunds?

Re: What this error is called?

Avangi — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:24:57 GMT

Hi,

I'd say "agreement of subject and verb." It becomes more complicated when you ask a question, because you have to worry about the person, number and tense of the principle verb (to mean) and also the person, number and tense of the auxilliary verb (helping verb) to do.

It means nothing.

It meant nothing.

"It" is third person singular. It means is correct present tense. It meant is correct past tense.

When you ask the question, use the bare infinitive of the principle verb "to mean." In your examples, it doesn't change.

The agreement is done by the auxilliary verb. It does. It did. What does it mean? What did it mean?

To be more specific about your error, you failed to use the infinitive form of the principle verb, mean. You used the simple present and past of both the principle verb and the auxilliary verb. You might call it an error in verb formation. (I guess you'd have to say the agreement of subject and verb is correct.)

- A.

Re: Sorry, that seat's taken.

Avangi — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:41:15 GMT

Cool Breeze
some people call the past participle an adjective when it denotes a state, not an action.

Thanks, CB.

So if I asked such a person to use the present passive of one of the listed transitive verbs in a sentence, how might he reply? (to specify; impeach; edit; isolate; destroy; deny)

(I just looked for a few which I thought were transitive only. I'm having a hard time picturing something acted upon which is not thereby placed in a state.)

Best wishes, - A.

Edit. Okay, I should have read your "door" example first. It's contextual, right? By referring to the time at which the action is habitually performed, we get the same effect as placing it in the future or in the past. That is, at this particular present moment, the door is not necessarily "closed." (The door is closed at eight o'clock.) A poor excuse for present tense

I think I'm starting to get it. The motion is denied. I suppose that's an action.

Did you know?

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:35:24 GMT

Which sentence is correct? and why please? I think the second sentence is correct because when you use the word "did" the verb must be in present tense. Do I put question mark after the sentence?

Did you know that I bought an iPod Touch?

Or

Did you know that I buy an iPod Touch?

Re: The Continuous tense

Tanit — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:43:11 GMT

Hi,

Anonymous
Does that rule not fit in with "What are you doing?"?

Sure it fits, why not?

"What are you doing?"

are is the present tense of the verb "to be" (second person, singular)
doing is the -ing form of "to do" (which here acts as the main verb)

When you have a verb in its continuous form, the tense is given by the verb "to be":

I am studying ... > present continuous
I have been studying ... > present perfect continuous
I was studying ... > past continuous
I had been studying ... > past perfect continuous

Re: id/t/d

Philip — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:27:10 GMT

CB's explanation is 100% right on. It is a linguistic question dealing with phonology.

By the way, the same principle is in play with the plural noun ending 's/es': 's' after a non-voiced consonant (lamps, desks); 'z' after a voiced consonant or a vowel (dogs, monkeys); and 'iz' after the sound of 's' or 'z' (classes, noises).

The same with the third person singular of the present tense of verbs: 's' (hits); 'z' (plays); and 'iz' (misses).

(Printing note: in my examples, and in CB's, the vowel indicated as 'i' should be the schwa (Ó) sound.

Re: Past tense and present tense(confused)

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:07:27 GMT

some of the verb can be adjective, when ed is applied.. interest itself can be a verb or noun, it can be adjective though.. after ed is applied.. it is same with i am beautiful..

Re: Past tense and present tense(confused)

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:09:13 GMT

Hi In the above reply posted by jaylhw1 on Mon. apr.21 2008 you said the use of "I am mistaken" is the same structure as " I am worried" Could you please explain to me which structure that may be? I can not come clear with the use of "I am" coupled with a verb in the past tense such as I am interested. Please help!