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 #2 (permalink) Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:27 am past perfect or past simple? |
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Hi Rosalisa
My comments are in the quote:
| Rosalisa wrote: |
1. I did my homework when I had watched/watched TV. ( I guess, "had watched is correct...how about "watched"?) You could use the simple past tense (watched) if you used 'after' instead of 'when'. If you use 'watched' with 'when', it sounds as though you watched TV and did homework at the same time.
2. I read/have read positive reviews about that film in the papers so I am going to see it. ( I think it's "have read" which is more correct...but is it possible to use "read" too?" I agree that 'have read' is better, but 'read' is also possible (especially in AmE).
3. He was late. When he arrived/had arrived at the airport, the plane had already left. ( I chose "had arrived"....) You should use 'arrived' because 'had left' happened first (i.e. further in the past).
4. The weather forecast says that the sun will shine/shines/is shining/is going to shine tomorrow. ( I think it is "is going to shine"...but are the others correct too?..) It depends on how sure the meteorologist is. :wink: Using the 'be going to' future indicates that the forecast is quite certain. If the meteorologist is relatively unsure (only 80% sure, for example) he/she will probably use 'will'. Depending on how the forecast is presented, you might possibly hear the other options as well, though I think they're much less likely. Most grammar books tell you to use 'will' for a weather forecast because 'will' is typically used to make a prediction.
For example, here is a current forecast for the US:
"Tonight, severe storms will pop in the Midwest. Rain will dampen much of the Northeast and lower Midwest tomorrow." |
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Yankee
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA
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| #3 (permalink) Fri Mar 23, 2007 3:07 am past perfect or past simple? |
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Yankee,
In sentence 1. why not one can use " after I had watched TV ", because this event happened earlier than the other (doing homework).
In sentence 4. If 'will' is used showing uncertainity, then what is 'would' used for ? |
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Swordfish117
New Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 8
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| #4 (permalink) Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:38 am past perfect or past simple? |
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Hi Rosalisa,
Here are my comments on your sentences;
Sentence 1. I did my homework when I watched TV. (Normally, a past perfect isn't followed by a time clause beginning with WHEN; after or before can be better.)
Sentence 2. I have read positive reviews about that film in the papers so I am going to see it. ( I agree you, I also think it's "have read" which is more correct...but it is also possible to use "read"
Sentence 3. He was late. When he arrived at the airport, the plane had already left. ( For me, you can use "he arrived" but you had better use BY THE TIME instead of WHEN)
4. The weather forcast says that the sun is going to shine tomorrow. ( you can use "be going to" for this sentence because it is a kind of indirect clause and the reporter has enough proof for a future event"the proof is the forecast on TV or radio. I think it is "is going to shine" the others aren't correct for me. |
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Aydincelenk
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 44
Location: Turkey
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| #5 (permalink) Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:57 pm past perfect or past simple? |
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Hi Swordfish
My comments are in the quote:
| Swordfish117 wrote: |
In sentence 1. why not one can use " after I had watched TV ", because this event happened earlier than the other (doing homework). You can also say it that way. But when the word 'after' is used, the order of the past events is clear. In Rosalisa's sentence, the past perfect is not necessary.
In sentence 4. If 'will' is used showing uncertainity, then what is 'would' used for ? Would can be used to show even greater uncertainty or to talk about a possibility that is only theoretical -- but would is not usually used to predict the weather. One typical place to use would is in a "type 2 if sentence". For example, someone might say this at the end of April: "If it snowed tomorrow, I would build a snowman." Snow tomorrow (in April) is theoretically possible, but the speaker thinks it is not probable. The sentence is theoretical. These sorts of if sentences often state a more theoretical possibility rather a real possibility. |
Amy
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Mar 23, 2007 13:12 pm past perfect or past simple? |
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| aydincelenk wrote: |
| Sentence 3. He was late. When he arrived at the airport, the plane had already left. ( For me, you can use "he arrived" but you had better use BY THE TIME instead of WHEN) |
Saying 'by the time he arrived' is also possible, but it is by no means preferable to saying 'when he arrived'. It's just an alternative.
| aydincelenk wrote: |
| 4. The weather forcast says that the sun is going to shine tomorrow. ( you can use "be going to" for this sentence because it is a kind of indirect clause and the reporter has enough proof for a future event"the proof is the forecast on TV or radio. I think it is "is going to shine" the others aren't correct for me. |
The sentence itself is a bit unusual in that it is far more typical to say "It will be sunny tomorrow" or "It's going to be sunny tomorrow."
Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA
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| #7 (permalink) Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:29 am past perfect or past simple? |
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| Thanks yankee...i am somewhat more clear now.. |
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Swordfish117
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Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 8
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| Has "No can do" the same origin like "Long time no speak"? | What does this sentence mean: As fares fell one of the casualties or victims...? |
