Site Search:
 
Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

tense and meaning

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Learning English
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
hela



Joined: 02 May 2004
Posts: 420
Location: Tunisia

PostPosted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:49 am    Post subject: tense and meaning Reply with quote

Dear teachers,

What is the difference in meaning between these sentences ?

1) a) It is (high) time I / we went. (it is a little late ?)
b) It is (high) time for us to go. (the correct time has arrived ?)

2) a) It is (high) time they were married. (describes a state, a situation ?)

b) It is (high) time they married. (describes an action ?)

3) a) I was talking to Tom the other day. (= casual event ?)
(emphasis on the conversation: we were having a conversation when something happened)

b) I talked to Tom the other day. (= premeditated event ?)
(the subject did take the initiative of the action or he informed Tom about what he and other people agreed upon ?)

4) a) What were you doing in my room? (could indicate a reproach ?)
(= you had no right to be there ?)

b) What did you do in my room? (simple question about a past activity? )

5) a) What were you doing before you came here? (question about a past action in progress?)

b) What did you do before you came here? (= what was your occupation before you came here ? or Other meaning ?)

6) a) Bill had served in the army for 10 years; then he retired and married. His children were now at school.
(�now� here expresses a time of narration in the past ?)

b) Bill served in the army for 10 years; then he retired and married. His children are now at school.
(�now� here expresses a time of narration in the present ?)

Do you have better explanations, please?

Thank you in advance for your help.
Hela
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
helen1



Joined: 24 Nov 2004
Posts: 115

PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 5:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Hela,

Here's my attempt at an explanation of meaning of each of your sentences

Quote:
1) a) It is (high) time I / we went. (it is a little late ?)
b) It is (high) time for us to go. (the correct time has arrived ?)


'high' in both add emphasis and indicate the speakers' feeling of 'overdue time' - although probably no set arrangements were made. -
The difference comes with go and went -
go definitely indicates a movement towards - i.e. go and see someone or go home - it is the place/person they are to go to that is the focus of the statement.

The use of went indicates either that the person/place they are going from is the focus of the speakers' thoughts or for an event (such as a concert) is finite.


Quote:
2) a) It is (high) time they were married. (describes a state, a situation ?)

b) It is (high) time they married. (describes an action ?)


Here you are completely correct a) is focussing on the situation/state of being married while b) is focusing on the event/ceremony.

Quote:
3) a) I was talking to Tom the other day. (= casual event ?)
(emphasis on the conversation: we were having a conversation when something happened)

b) I talked to Tom the other day. (= premeditated event ?)
(the subject did take the initiative of the action or he informed Tom about what he and other people agreed upon ?)


Hmmm - here you have the difference between the past progressive and simple past -
a) the speaker is placing him/herself back in the situation of talking (like being in a time machine) they see the event as non-remote and related to present time.
b) The speaker is talking about an event he/she does not see as having a connection to the present time - seeing it as remote and complete.

Quote:
4) a) What were you doing in my room? (could indicate a reproach ?) (= you had no right to be there ?)

b) What did you do in my room? (simple question about a past activity? )


Again you are correct with your meanings - the use of past progressive again shows the speaker sees a connection with the event (although finished) to the present time - i.e. feeling of annoyance - however although the majority of the time this format would indicate annoyance it could also be used just to indicate surprise.

Quote:
5) a) What were you doing before you came here? (question about a past action in progress?)

b) What did you do before you came here? (= what was your occupation before you came here ? or Other meaning ?)


Again a difference between past and past progressive. Both can be used in questions about occupation although b) is more common. The progressive suggests non-remoteness and therefore an action/event that could have continued until the time point of 'came here' This link is not seen in the 'completed' action/event indicated by the simple past.

Quote:
6) a) Bill had served in the army for 10 years; then he retired and married. His children were now at school.
(�now� here expresses a time of narration in the past ?)

b) Bill served in the army for 10 years; then he retired and married. His children are now at school.
(�now� here expresses a time of narration in the present ?)


You are once again correct in your interpretation of meaning although b) may be used not just for narration, but also to state a current situaton/state.

Hope this is helpful and my explanations aren't too confusing.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
hela



Joined: 02 May 2004
Posts: 420
Location: Tunisia

PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear teachers,

Could you please tell me the difference between the following couple of sentences?

1) a) We watched TV all night.
b) We were watching TV all night.

2) a) I have been cutting onions, this is why my eyes look red.
b) I have cut my finger when I was cutting onions. (correct sentence ?)

3) a) It has rained all night.
b) It has been raining all night.

4) a) I have been writing letters all morning.
b) I have written letters all morning.

5) a) Look at the mess my paper is in! Who has been reading it?
b) Look at the mess my paper is in! Who has read it?

Thank you very mcuch in advance.
Hela
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Hela,

These are my best guesses:

1. They mean the same thing, but b would more likely be used when you are talking about something else: We didn't finish our taxes because we were watching TV all night. (Notice that the main focus of the sentence is in the simple past.)

2. a. ... onions. This is...
b. I don't believe this is correct.

3. a. We don't know if it is still night or if it is now the morning. We also don't know whether or not it is still raining.
It has rained all night. I wish it would stop.
It has rained all night, but what a beautiful day it is. I won't even have to water the flowers.
b. It is still night (or possibly, not long after daybreak), and it is still raining.

4. a. It is still morning (or possibly shortly past noon) and I am still writing letters.
b. We don't know if it is still morning or later in the day. I may still be writing them, or I may have finished.

5. a. I want to know who messed it up on me.
b. This sounds more like a concern for others. As if now it is unreadacle, but I know that others need/want to read it.

Hope that helps.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
hela



Joined: 02 May 2004
Posts: 420
Location: Tunisia

PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Bud,

I'll study that and if I have more questions I'll come back to you.

All the best,
Hela
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Learning English All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Dave's ESL Cafe is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Banner Advertising | Bookstore / Alta Books | FAQs | Articles | Interview with Dave
Copyright © 2018 Dave's ESL Cafe | All Rights Reserved | Contact Dave's ESL Cafe | Site Map

Teachers College, Columbia University: Train to Teach English Here or Abroad
SIT
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group