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

Pigeon roosting problem - past or present tense?

Peaceblinkfriend — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:37:04 GMT

Hi all,

If you are describing to your friend about how pigeons would roost on the window ledges at the place where you lived, would you use the past tense of the verb 'roosted' or the present tense, 'roost'? Supposing there are still pigeons roosting on the window ledges where you used to live.

"Pigeons roosted on the window ledge. And I'm talking about the window in my room. Can you believe it?"
"Pigeons roost on the window ledge. And I'm talking about the window in my room. Can you believe it? "

Thanks

PBF

Re: "I thought it was" VS "I thought it is"

Skrej — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:41:13 GMT

'I thought it was mine is correct.' You need to use past tense 'was' because you used past tense 'thought' in the first part of the sentence.

Otherwise, you end up mixing verb tenses.

Re: there had

Skrej — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:25:14 GMT

No. You need to use the past tense of the 'to be' verb here.

Long ago, there was a goatherd named John.

Re: hope and sorry

CalifJim — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:15:23 GMT

Anonymous
Can a past tense follow the word 'hope'?
I hope you had a great time at the beach last week.

Yes. That's a frequent combination.

Anonymous
Can a present tense be used after the word 'sorry' eventhough the event for it has not occurred yet?

In some cases this is possible, but not in general. You would typically have some sort of modal verb there.

I'm sorry you are leaving us so soon.

I'm sorry you have to have such a serious operation next month.

I'm sorry you can't attend the party tonight.

Re: lay or Lie past tense?

Cute572 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:34:16 GMT

Thanks RayH!

I was using laid to my ownself. After reading I came to know its difference.

I have small question not about this verb but basic grammer question.

Do we always applied 3rd form of verb with (has,have,had) otherwise not in the sentence ?

lay or Lie past tense?

Cute572 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:46:09 GMT

1. I lay down on that long chair and let myself go.

2. I lay [or use 3rd verb form of lie i.e lain here?] there with pateince and the pointing light covered my whole face.

I have two questions one already asked in brackets.

In this First sentence lay i used as second forum of lie (lay,lain) which means to be in a horizontal position.

But if i place Lay (lay,laid,laid) means to put or place some thing, the net dictionary point out its meaning: set down, rested upon

So please help me to understand and set correct Lay use.

Thanks!

Re: a sausage flop out

Clive — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:13:14 GMT

Hi,
She cut a small hole in the packet, and then squeezed her fingers in and stretch open the opening. A hotdog flop out.

Is the above understandable and natural? You need to put your last two verbs in past tense. And try to avoid the repetition of 'open'. Other than that, it seems OK.
Clive

Re: Do AMericans pronounce " forty" as fordi or forti?

sumryan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:34:33 GMT

My students always have questions about this pronunciation feature. I know of four patterns that might help you predict where to pronounce 't' as a soft /d/.

1. when a âtâ is between vowels when the preceding vowel is stressed in words such as: city, party, forty, water

2. when a âtâ comes before a syllabic /l/ sound in words such as: petal, metal, settle

3. in past tense verbs ending in âtâ such as: educated, excited, defeated

4. in comparative adjectives ending in âtâ such as: greater, greatest, smarter, smartest

There may be other patterns or rules as well. Good luck with this.

Susan
<link removed by a mod.>

Re: must in past

CalifJim — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:21:25 GMT

Anonymous
Could the word 'must' used in past-time situations only for reported speech cases or just about any situations?

It's probably most used in the reported speech situation or in other subordinate clauses. It's hard to find a main clause where must has a past tense meaning. had to is used instead when the meaning is have to. must have is used when the meaning is the only logical conclusion is....

_______________

must as have to:

I must go. = I have to go.

The past is I had to go.

Present: George must find a way to solve the problem. Or: George has to find a way to solve the problem.

Past: George had to find a way to solve the problem. Not: George must find a way to solve the problem.

Present: You must learn the irregular verbs of English. Or: You have to learn the irregular verbs of English.

Past: You had to learn the irregular verbs of English. Not: You must learn the irregular verbs of English.

Present: Employees must wash their hands frequently. Or: Employees have to wash their hands frequently.

Past: Employees had to wash their hands frequently. Not: Employees must wash their hands frequently.

_______________

must as The only logical conclusion is

Mary has ten cats.

Mary must like cats. = The only logical conclusion is that Mary likes cats.

The past means The only logical conclusion is that Mary liked cats. And for that meaning you have to change must like to must have liked, thus:

Mary had ten cats. She must have liked cats.

____

Here are a few more for you to study.

It looks like Lucy is going to leave that package behind. It must be too heavy to carry. (We conclude that it is too heavy.)

Lucy left that big package behind. It must have been too heavy to carry. (We conclude that it was too heavy.)

___

The puppy is begging for food. He must be hungry. (We conclude that he is hungry.)

The puppy was begging for food. He must have been hungry. (We conclude that he was hungry.)

___

Mr. Johnson buys his wife expensive presents. He must love her very much. (We conclude that he loves her.)

Mr. Johnson used to buy his wife expensive presents. He must have loved her very much. (We conclude that he loved her.)

___

Be careful when the main verb is have. must have is the present, and must have had the past.

Aunt Polly always sees when Huck steals a biscuit. She must have eyes in the back of her head!

Aunt Polly saw Huck steal a biscuit. She must have had eyes in the back of her head!

Re: stride over

Clive — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:38:16 GMT

Hi,
Theopast tense is 'strode'.
However, a better verb form here would be 'climbed over' or 'jumped over'.

Clive