Questions tagged [tense-agreement]

205 questions
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We each has/have?

I'm confused by the following sentences: Each of us has a laptop. We each have a laptop. How can I intuit the differences between the two sayings? Why is it "we each have" rather than "we each has"?
Lerner Zhang
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Hasn't been opened yet vs isn't open yet

During a conversation, which is the more natural of the following two sentences? Are both correct? There have been delays, my bank account hasn't been opened yet. There have been delays, my bank account isn't open yet.
GiovanS
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5
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Tense matching problems, e.g.: “I found out Pat is/was male”

Suppose Pat is male. Which one is correct? I found out Pat is male. I found out Pat was male. Does the following change make any difference? She said Pat is male. She said Pat was male. Suppose you created a mathematical model. When you are…
quibble
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5
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7 answers

Tense disagreement with time adverbial: “had been wearing” used with “a week ago”

He watched Powers drum his fingers restlessly on the enamel desk top, his eyes glancing at the spinal level charts hung around the office. Despite his unkempt appearance - he had been wearing the same unironed shirt and…
Kinzle B
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4
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2 answers

Why is it "I saw you kiss her yesterday" instead of "I saw you kissed her yesterday"?

I have seen in a movie a strange sentence which is: I saw you kiss her yesterday. So considering that is past simple, she should have said 'kissed' instead of 'kiss'. I don't understand why we don't say : I saw you kissed her yesterday.
3
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2 answers

"to receive" vs "to have received"

The salesman said he was very glad to receive the order the day before. The salesman said he was very glad to have received the order the day before. I think that a perfect infinitive (to have p.p) should be applied to the subordinate clause…
anotherworld
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Question related to tense agreement

I am studying "Sequence of tenses" using English grammar book and get totally confused. When should agreement of tenses be applied and when should it not? For example in the following cases it is applied partially: I thought that he would tell her…
vho
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3
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2 answers

Why is "never mastered" used instead of "never master"?

Source video at 11:50 In the anime, the character says: That woman, she hates me. She wanted to make sure I never mastered genjutsu. I do not know why never master is not used in place of the bold part. It sounds a bit odd to me. Another great…
Anubhav
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2
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Question about "would start"

Here is the sentence: By ten o'clock he _____ the engine and he _____ to paint the garage when I paid a visit to him There are 5 possible answers: a) had repaired/had started b) repaired/was starting c) repaired/had started d) repairs/starts e) had…
Dmitrii
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Use of present perfect with "until" - "...until he's eaten everything"

I came across the following sentence and I would like to ask if it is grammatically correct to say the second one also and if we can what will it mean? 1 .His parents make him stay at the table until he's eaten everything. 2. His parents make…
Mrt
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2
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Word choice - Have come to understand / have understood

I didn't understand a friendship between a guy and a girl, but now I have come to understand the relationship. I didn't understand a friendship between a guy and a girl, but now I have understood the relationship. Which one is the more natural…
jihoon
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1 answer

Tenses from a point of view

“He says she’ll not be here long.” (1) This phrase, uttered in my hearing yesterday, would have only conveyed the notion that she was about to be removed to Northumberland, to her own home. I should not have suspected that it meant she was…
Listenever
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I have a question of sequence of tense

The secretary informed Mr.Wallaby that the Merlin Restaurant ____ to provide a dining room that seats 100 people. (A) to contract (B) contracting (c) contracts (d) has been contracted First, the answer is (d), but I think 'd' is not…
Dasik
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2 answers

Differences of Sequence of verbs

1-I will tell him I will go to the cinema. Here, the event "going cinema" is later than telling. We use future "will" here. 2-I will call you before I arrive. Although arriving is later than calling, in contrast to the first sentence, we use…
d.alex
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1 answer

tense-agreement

Sarah says she wants me to get a job, as she says we need the money. I said she has a great job that pays relly well. We can live comfortably without me getting a job. Is there any problem in the article about Grammar? The main clause's tense…
user223461
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