In Stative verbs^x, Past tenses^x

Hi, YSchneider. I am not a native speaker and this is indeed a tough grammar point for non-native speakers.Here is an extract from CGEL*: Did you lock the front door?

Thanks for the feedback! Tanit: «"Women were not ready to encounter those forms of difficulties they are actually facing now.» Ok. They were not ready to encounter the difficulties. They are facing them now. But are they ready now? Your sentence tell nothing about that. Right? It...

Yes, there is a big difference - the difference between past and future. If you say I wish I bought a new car, you are suggesting that you haven't bought the car even though you had an opportunity to do so (in the past). (This is also said I wish I had bought a new car with the same...

Hello AstraeaI too am a learner of English, but let me answer to your question.Are you asking if the sentences like below are correct? I write a letter now. I just finish my assignment.No, both are incorrect. Do you ask why? Are you asking why? It's because "write" and "finish" are...

Hello Tallulah and CliveThank you for the clear answers. I was wrong to think "a period ago" couldn't go with the simple past tense of stative verbs. Many people use sentences like "I stayed/live there several years ago". So, now I understand "I knew her five years ago" is also a correct...

Hi Paco,Here are some comments.(1) (x) I knew her five years ago.This is wrong. "Five years ago" is a point-time adverbial and so it can't go with a stative verb "know". It sounds OK to me. My understanding is that you have lost contact with her, thus you don't know her now, you don't have a...

Hello guysI come to feel I have misunderstood the usage of "know". I thought previously "know someone" could be a dynamic verb to mean "get acquainted with someone", but now I understand "know someone" can be only a stative verb to mean "be acquainted with someone" or "keep a relationship with...