1

In this sentence:

The captions linking the action appear in R.W. Paul's Scrooge (1901) and began occurring more frequently.

in my understanding, the verb appear indicates an action in the past, but why it is conjugated in simple present tense?

stangdon
  • 40,835
  • 9
  • 72
  • 101
Moha
  • 89
  • 4

1 Answers1

1

"Appear" is not describing an action in the past, but the present state. If you look in a copy of Scrooge today you will the captions linking the action. The captions appear, now!

The shift from present to past is a little awkward, but may be unavoidable.

James K
  • 217,650
  • 16
  • 258
  • 452