Which is the correct one? I'd go with No.1
1) As time has passed by, people have realized the importance of computers in everyday's life.
2) As time passed by, people have realized the importance of computers in everyday's life.
3) As time passes by, people realize the importance of computers in everyday's life.
1) As time has passed by, people have realized the importance of computers in everyday's life.
2) As time passed by, people have realized the importance of computers in everyday's life.
3) As time passes by, people realize the importance of computers in everyday's life.
1 2
Comments
By the time my children graduate college, I will be in my 50’s.
In general, when time is not specified, no article is needed. i.e. Time is an irreplaceable and precious commodity. This is a general statement which requires no article.
However, consider this: The time you wasted can not be replaced.
Does that answer your questions?
As time passed, people realized ...
As time passes, people realize ...
With the passage of time, people [have realized / realized / realize] ...
CJ
CJ
So back to my original question, am I right to say that example No1. is the only correct one to imply it's a fact still in progress? I believe the Present Perfect should be used on both parts of the sentence, shouldn't it?
As time passed, people realized ...
As time passes, people realize ...
All 3 of CJ examples are correct. It depends on how you want to relate your statement at the time that determines the appropriateness of selection.
1- Some unknown point in the past to present.
2- Simply past
3- General present statement.
I can’t say enough about contexts. We must learn to apply full context to a given
question in order to for the experts to answer the questions precisely.