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#2 (permalink) Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:05 am Asks/offers |
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Hi Jeyanthi,
You wrote:
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The moment he crossed the doorstep, an old school friend comes up to Andrew, offers to buy him a drink and tells him not to look so worried.
Correct answer: (d) offers _________________________
Why we should not use asks for this question?
Jeyanthi |
You wouldn't ask to buy someone something because you are willing to buy something and so you are prepared to do this. Note the difference:
He offered to help me - he said he was willing to help me
He asked me to help him - he wanted to know if I would help him.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13890 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:21 am Why we should not use asks for this question? |
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| Hi, I wonder why we use simple present tense in this sentence ( such as 'comes up', 'offers him' and 'tells him')since we have already had past tense for the verb " crossed' , doesn't it indicate that there are all past actions in the sentence ( and the story as well)? |
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Zishuli You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 88 Location: BeiJing
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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#5 (permalink) Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:51 am Why we should not use asks for this question? |
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| Zishuli wrote: |
| Hi, I wonder why we use simple present tense in this sentence ( such as 'comes up', 'offers him' and 'tells him')since we have already had past tense for the verb " crossed' , doesn't it indicate that there are all past actions in the sentence ( and the story as well)? |
We don't need to use the sequence of tenses in the second part of the test sentence due to the fact action in both parts considered to be simultaneous & there's no main & subordinate clause as well. Both parts are equivalent. PS. Would be good to add that this is narration. _________________ I find your Lack of Faith disturbing!
The Force is out there! |
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Gheon I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 252 Location: Center of Universe, Jedi Academy
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| The first item on the statement. vs The first item of the statement. | meaning of temporary |