Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
tense in one's thought
Hi,
I think I have used a sentence similar to the underlined one in a similar context as the one below to ask a question.
Yesterday, I was in an open-air restaurant with some friends at a table. I saw a pan handler coming in. The management or waiters didn't see him. He was asking for money. At that instance, I thought, "Hmm... if I give some money, I won't be able to buy a gift for my niece (this evening). Tough choice." I was able to indulge in that thought more than a minute or two, when I saw him come to our table to ask for money.
Does it have to be in past tense like "if I gave some money, I wouldn't be able t buy a gift for my niece (this evening)"? I am uneasy about what to do with the time phrase "this evening". It doesn't seem to go well with the previous "past tense" version (second conditional?".
I think I have used a sentence similar to the underlined one in a similar context as the one below to ask a question.
Yesterday, I was in an open-air restaurant with some friends at a table. I saw a pan handler coming in. The management or waiters didn't see him. He was asking for money. At that instance, I thought, "Hmm... if I give some money, I won't be able to buy a gift for my niece (this evening). Tough choice." I was able to indulge in that thought more than a minute or two, when I saw him come to our table to ask for money.
Does it have to be in past tense like "if I gave some money, I wouldn't be able t buy a gift for my niece (this evening)"? I am uneasy about what to do with the time phrase "this evening". It doesn't seem to go well with the previous "past tense" version (second conditional?".
Top answer
Hi, Your present tense is fine. You are telling us your thoughts at what for you was the present time. If you had voiced these thoughts to your friends sitting in the restaurant, you would have used present tense.
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Hi,
Your present tense is fine. You are telling us your thoughts at what for you was the present time.
If you had voiced these thoughts to your friends sitting in the restaurant, you would have used present tense.
Think of it that you were talking to yourself.
For the same reason, your use of 'this evening' is also fine
Best wishes, Clive
Your present tense is fine. You are telling us your thoughts at what for you was the present time.
If you had voiced these thoughts to your friends sitting in the restaurant, you would have used present tense.
Think of it that you were talking to yourself.
For the same reason, your use of 'this evening' is also fine
Best wishes, Clive
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Does it have to be in past tense like "if I gave some money, I wouldn't be able t buy a gift for my niece (this evening)"? No, it doesn't. I am uneasy about what to do with the time phrase "this evening". It doesn't seem to go well with the previous "past tense" version (second conditional?" this evening goes with the second conditional ju
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