Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Tense concordance in made-up dialogues
Hi. Please help. The following deals with two dialogues. Thank you in advance.
1. Which tense should we use, present or present continuous?
(to write about what was talked about A and B)
A is asking B whether he should ask his mom for the money and B says (or is saying?)/advises (is advising) he shouldn't.
(made-up dialogue)
A: Should I ask my mom for the money to buy it?
B: I think you shouldn't.
A: Then is there anyone I could ask for the money here?
B: I don't think there is any.
2. Which tense should we use? I think we can use either tense; present if the lead singer is still sick and past if the lead singer is no longer sick.
A: Why was the performance/concert cancelled?
B: That's because the lead singer is/was sick.
1. Which tense should we use, present or present continuous?
(to write about what was talked about A and B)
A is asking B whether he should ask his mom for the money and B says (or is saying?)/advises (is advising) he shouldn't.
(made-up dialogue)
A: Should I ask my mom for the money to buy it?
B: I think you shouldn't.
A: Then is there anyone I could ask for the money here?
B: I don't think there is any.
2. Which tense should we use? I think we can use either tense; present if the lead singer is still sick and past if the lead singer is no longer sick.
A: Why was the performance/concert cancelled?
B: That's because the lead singer is/was sick.
Top answer
1. This is natural: A asks B whether he should ask his mother for the money and B says /suggests that he shouldn't. A: Should I ask my mom for the money to buy it?
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1. This is natural:
A asks B whether he should ask his mother for the money and B says /suggests that he shouldn't.
A: Should I ask my mom for the money to buy it?
B: I don't think you should.
A: Then is there anyone I could ask for the money here?
B: I don't think so.
2. P
A asks B whether he should ask his mother for the money and B says /suggests that he shouldn't.
A: Should I ask my mom for the money to buy it?
B: I don't think you should.
A: Then is there anyone I could ask for the money here?
B: I don't think so.
2. P
0