I’m describing a situation that happened in the past. To explain it, I want to use a description that is both true now and true when the situation happened. Specifically, I want something like: She touched me where my neck met my collarbone. Since my neck is still attached to my collarbone (thankfully), I’m wondering … Read more
Every morning right after I went to the bathroom, I tell myself In the sentence above should went and tell agree? Is above correct? Answer No; went should be replaced with go. Tell is present-tense, as is go. Went is past-tense. Every morning, right after I go to the bathroom, I tell myself… If you … Read more
I know the past tense carries the past tense in every dependent clause, but referring specifically to places or to things that are eternal, like the Earth, seems a bit weird and therefore we sometimes (I believe incorrectly) say He didn’t know that New Jersey was actually on the East Coast. Because it still is. … Read more
Following Martha’s advice I am splitting up a question Compound sentences, the punctuation and mooore. Let’s put what I said / wrote something in the past. And now I want to elaborate some key points of spoken / written. So I start: What I wanted to say [is/was/are/were] … What form of the verb “to … Read more
Is it correct to say “What was your name?”? The reason I am asking this is, generally the name of the person will not change. One should say “What is your name?” http://variationsonnormal.com/2010/05/26/sorry-what-was-your-name-again/ Answer The question is in the past tense because the person forgot the other person’s name. Notice that he actually wrote “Sorry, … Read more
