...At least women swung only their hips. Young men swung everything, from...

[siCantikManis]

Hi,

Please take a look at these sentences from Monstrous Regiment (Terry Pratchett).

[Theeny]

It would make grammatical sense to say swing instead of swung, but this would change the sentence to present tense instead of past tense

Athena

[MrPedantic]

I'm not familiar with the book; but it seems to me that "swing" would present the statement as a general truth, inside and outside the story.

All the best,

MrP

[siCantikManis]

Thanks.

So the reason swung is used here is because the whole story is written in past tense? What's the logic behind it? I mean, if the statement remains a general truth wouldn't it be more correct to keep it in the present? Or is it because the writer wanted to put more stress?
_________________
Thou shalt not use yours to make the whole world jealous.

[MrPedantic]

I think the past tense makes it clearer that these are a particular character's thoughts, rather than a general truth (e.g. expressed in the voice of the author).

Cf.

1. "Young men swing everything!"

– her thought.

2. Young men swung everything, she thought.

– a reported version of #1.

(In a piece of fiction, it's not necessary to repeat "she thought", etc.: in this passage, for instance, the context tells us that it's her thoughts.)

Best wishes,

MrP

[siCantikManis]

Ahh, now I get it. Thanks MrP