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verb tense: 'I could've grabbed it if you hadn't pulled me off'



 
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verb tense: 'I could've grabbed it if you hadn't pulled me off' #1 (permalink) Sat Mar 31, 2007 20:36 pm   verb tense: 'I could've grabbed it if you hadn't pulled me off'
 

i just wanted someone to tell me if my verb tense was correct. "pulled"

1. "I could've grabbed it if you hadn't pulled me off. "

so is "pulled" ok in that phrase? thanks.
Huxley
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verb tense #2 (permalink) Sat Mar 31, 2007 21:12 pm   verb tense
 

Yes, your use of the past perfect in that sentence is correct.
Conchita
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verb tense #3 (permalink) Sat Mar 31, 2007 22:14 pm   verb tense
 

i wanted to ask your opinion about a dialoq line. i wrote:



CHARACTER 1
Have you ever felt like you try your hardest but it's never good enough?

CHARACTER 2
Sometimes but at least I tried.


(but i think i should change the "tried" to "try" like this one)

CHARACTER 2
Sometimes but at least I try.

---what do you think? should i change it ?...

and would it be grammaticaly correct ? i think i'm going to choose "try" because it flows better.
Huxley
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Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 21

verb tense #4 (permalink) Sat Mar 31, 2007 23:10 pm   verb tense
 

More context would be needed to be able to give some sensible advice. The use of the present simple would be appropriate to a general statement, whereas the past simple would refer to a specific, past experience.
Conchita
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Location: Madrid, Spain

verb tense #5 (permalink) Sat Mar 31, 2007 23:36 pm   verb tense
 

character 1 is not really referring to any event. he is not talking about some event in the past. he just feels sad and the other character is trying to console him.

and i thought that "try" flowed better.

and i wanted a second opinion about it. and to know if it was grammaticaly correct or not if i used "try"

so again, not referring to a past event , just sad and the other character tries to console him.
Huxley
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 21

verb tense #6 (permalink) Sun Apr 01, 2007 0:01 am   verb tense
 

huxley wrote:
and i wanted a second opinion about it. and to know if it was grammaticaly correct or not if i used "try"


Yes, it is grammatically correct.
Conchita
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Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

verb tense: 'I could've grabbed it if you hadn't pulled me off' #7 (permalink) Sun Apr 01, 2007 0:40 am   verb tense: 'I could've grabbed it if you hadn't pulled me off'
 

Hi Huxley

How about a slightly reworded version? Your Character 2 could say this:
Sometimes, but at least I know I tried.

Amy
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Yankee
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