Present simple even if it is not a general statement

Question

I came across this sentence:

When I go home tonight, I lay down in my bed and turn on the TV and it makes me so glad.

I think future shall be used (will or going to) for lay down, turn on and make. Present shall not be used for these verbs because it is not a general statement (tonight)

What do you think of it?

flumperious · Answer 1 · 2021-05-09T10:33:21.253

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You are correct in thinking future tense should be used. This would make the quote: "When I go home tonight, I will lie down in my bed and turn on the TV and it will make me so glad". However, this sentence feels bulky because of the chained clauses ("and ... and ... and"). I would say something along the lines of "When I go home tonight, I will lie down in my bed, turn on the TV and [feel happy/relax]"

edited May 09 '21 at 10:33

answered May 09 '21 at 10:15

flumperious

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Are you sure the verb is "to lay", not "to lie"? – Victor B. May 09 '21 at 10:29
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I would use them interchangeably in conversation, but it should be "will lie", yes – flumperious May 09 '21 at 10:32
And there is no need to repeat will before turn on and make ? – Yves Lefol May 09 '21 at 11:10
there is no need to repeat "will", no as the tense applies to the whole end of the sentence – flumperious May 09 '21 at 11:20
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If "I lay down in my bed" is present tense, then it means I apply duck feathers. The present tense verb you want is "lie down". – Dawood ibn Kareem May 09 '21 at 20:06

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 09 '21 at 11:08

When I go home tonight, I am going to lie down on the bed and just relax.

I would use going to since it seems a well-devised plan, not a spontaneously given answer. But both are fine, really.

The present simple is commonly used to tell stories.

When I go home tonight... (you close your eyes, your imagination kicks in) I take off my clothes, I dim the lights, I pour a glass of wine...

which puts the listener in the moment and has a dramatic (or often comedic) effect.

Present simple even if it is not a general statement

2 Answers2