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whitestboyalive
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
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 Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:36 pm Post subject: Grammar Question -- If I |
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Please help me out here.
Is this sentence correct? "He said I could go on the computer and play computer games for one hour if I studied for three hours."
Is the word "studied" correct? Or must it be "study." I am not sure. I swear I say "studied" and not "study" in this situation...
Confused!  |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Studied would be past tense. Study would be future tense. "Study" would imply that you're going to go and study so you can play on the computer. "Studied" would imply that you already studied and now you're done and going to play. |
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grandfunk
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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Past tense would imply that the person in question is saying it once he has finished the study.
I think studied would be the appropriate word to use ther, but your sentence structure could probably be better. |
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grandfunk
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hah, typical...typo when I'm correcting someone else...
Great username though, I love whitest boy! |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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direct speech
"You can go on the computer and play computer games for one hour if you study for 3 hours."
In reported speech you would probably back shift so the OP's sentence sounds fine
He said I could go on the computer and play computer games for one hour if I studied for three hours. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar Question -- If I |
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| whitestboyalive wrote: |
Please help me out here.
Is this sentence correct? "He said I could go on the computer and play computer games for one hour if I studied for three hours."
Is the word "studied" correct? Or must it be "study." I am not sure. I swear I say "studied" and not "study" in this situation...
Confused! |
What edward is saying above is a good approach to the subject.
In the OP...you are using direct speech...as you are using quotations...but the speech inside the quotations is reported speech...so past tense is acceptable.
Both past tense and present tense are acceptable depending on the context.
It depends on who is speaking...and who they are speaking to. |
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whitestboyalive
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar Question -- If I |
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| The Cosmic Hum wrote: |
| whitestboyalive wrote: |
Please help me out here.
Is this sentence correct? "He said I could go on the computer and play computer games for one hour if I studied for three hours."
Is the word "studied" correct? Or must it be "study." I am not sure. I swear I say "studied" and not "study" in this situation...
Confused! |
What edward is saying above is a good approach to the subject.
In the OP...you are using direct speech...as you are using quotations...but the speech inside the quotations is reported speech...so past tense is acceptable.
Both past tense and present tense are acceptable depending on the context.
It depends on who is speaking...and who they are speaking to. |
Thanks so much everyone. I really appreciate it. That's a tough one for me... and for my students. |
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