Tense

padnar · Apr 2, 2008

HI ,
I am Padma and my problem is get my tense wrong .
while we are writing a story should we stick only to the past ,
or can we change into the future or present in the next paragraph
I would lie to know . Pl help
padma

dpaterso · Apr 2, 2008

It's not a good idea to change tenses in the same chapter or section. You'll just confuse your readers.

Past tense is most common in novels I've read. But you can write in present tense if you prefer.

I'm not sure what future tense is.

You really need to read more. Every message you post is in mangled English that sticks out like a sore thumb.

-Derek

Mumut · Apr 2, 2008

If you are writing in the past you have to remember that.

'She walked up to the man,' shows the simple past tense of the verb 'to walk'.

'What are you doing?' she asked. This is the present tense. Although the action is in the past, the narative is often in the present tense - it is what they are doing at that time.

'I am going to whip your ass.' This is future tense.

He had threatened Jenny with that before. This is the past perfect. It is someone in the past talking about something even further in the past.

The reason I went through all of that is to stress that it is possible to forget where you are (in time), especially in the past perfect. When I re-read my work I look carefully at every time I see the word 'had' and similar. Am I really in the past talking about something that had happened further in the past?

So, as Derek says, read extensively but also take note of the tense of what you are reading - and good luck.

padnar · Apr 2, 2008

Hi ,
Thanks for the example . In this example yu have started with the past tense and when it comes to the narrative part yu are using the present .
Pl dont mistake me , as this is exactly what I would like to know can we use present tense in the narative ,though it is in the same paragraph . pl write .
ps I also hope that I am clear to yu
padma

absitinvidia · Apr 2, 2008

padnar said:
Hi ,
Thanks for the example . In this example yu have started with the past tense and when it comes to the narrative part yu are using the present .
Pl dont mistake me , as this is exactly what I would like to know can we use present tense in the narative ,though it is in the same paragraph . pl write .
ps I also hope that I am clear to yu
padma

Dialogue--that is, characters speaking--can be in whatever tense is appropriate for what the character is trying to say. However, the surrounding prose, the story itself in which the dialogue appears, should be in one tense throughout the story. As others have mentioned, this can be present or past tense.

I'm sorry if I've misinterpreted your question - I hope this helps.

padnar · Apr 3, 2008

Thanks it is helpful
padma

maestrowork · Apr 3, 2008

In his example, he has dialogue -- in dialogue you can use whatever tense that makes sense. But in narrative, stick with the tense you're using, even if you're describing something that is always/still true:

Mary stopped and looked at the sky. The sun always came out.

There are variations of the continuous, future, and perfect tenses when you're using past tense:

Mary was eating an ice cream when Jerry called. She did not answer the phone. She would call him later. She had forgotten they had a date that evening.

As opposed to the same tenses in the context of "present tense":

Mary is eating an ice cream when Jerry calls. She does not answer the phone. She will call him later. She has forgotten they have a date that evening.

IceCreamEmpress · Apr 3, 2008

dpaterso said:
I'm not sure what future tense is.

We don't, strictly speaking, have one in English. Instead, we use a composite future: "John works every day; John worked last Sunday; John will work next Sunday" and so on.

In many languages, the future is indicated in the conjugation of the verb; in French, those same sentences are "John travaille chaque jour; John a travaillé le dimanche passé; John travaillera le dimanche prochain."

You really need to read more. Every message you post is in mangled English

English isn't Padma's first language, remember. Padma, I don't think reading alone is going to give you enough support to build your skills to the point where you can write in international standard English; I really think you should see if you can take some adult education classes (or perhaps online classes) to build your English fluency.

blacbird · Apr 3, 2008

Mumut said:
'What are you doing?' she asked. This is the present tense.

No. The active verb in the sentence is "asked", which is clearly past tense. The quotation doesn't count as part of the narrative tense. To render this sentence in present tense, it needs to be: 'What are you doing?' she asks.

caw

girlyswot · Apr 5, 2008

dpaterso said:
I'm not sure what future tense is.

I did read a short story written in future tense once. It worked quite well, I thought, giving the whole thing a sort of imaginary quality. As if we were in the POV character's head while she was thinking through how her evening might turn out. You were left with an eerie sense of wondering whether any of the story "actually" happened at all, even within the story world. I'm not sure you could sustain it for a whole novel though.

blacbird · Apr 5, 2008

dpaterso said:
I'm not sure what future tense is.

It's hardly ever used as a major narrative tense. But I've seen some situations (and right now I can't point to any specific ones) used as short portions of predictive narration within the framework of either more normal present or past tense. So I'll concoct an example:

"I go into the bank knowing they will deny my loan. (standard present tense narration)

I'll be greeted cordially by the loan officer, and he will sit down and show me the paperwork documenting my crappy credit, and with an unctuous smile, he will tell me the bank will not extend me any credit. At which point I will pull out my pistol and shoot him straight through the forehead. (future tense narration)"

That clear things up? Or just make it all worse?

caw

maestrowork · Apr 5, 2008

I'll see that Derek will be enlightened.

Inky · Apr 5, 2008

IceCreamEmpress said:
We don't, strictly speaking, have one in English. Instead, we use a composite future: "John works every day; John worked last Sunday; John will work next Sunday" and so on.

In many languages, the future is indicated in the conjugation of the verb; in French, those same sentences are "John travaille chaque jour; John a travaillé le dimanche passé; John travaillera le dimanche prochain."

English isn't Padma's first language, remember. Padma, I don't think reading alone is going to give you enough support to build your skills to the point where you can write in international standard English; I really think you should see if you can take some adult education classes (or perhaps online classes) to build your English fluency.

Thank you. As a supermod, I would have expected him to be a wee bit more sensitive to the fact that AW has members from many different countries/languages/cultures.
I too have issues with tense and read through this post...I'll thank the rest of you for posting samples. They've helped tremendously. I've had continued controversy over 'ing' vs 'ed', have done plenty of reading, and though am told 'ing' is for past tense, have seen it over and over as present tense.
Grrrrr...Enlish!

girlyswot · Apr 5, 2008

Inky said:
I too have issues with tense and read through this post...I'll thank the rest of you for posting samples. They've helped tremendously. I've had continued controversy over 'ing' vs 'ed', have done plenty of reading, and though am told 'ing' is for past tense, have seen it over and over as present tense.
Grrrrr...Enlish!

'ing' isn't really a tense at all. It's either a participle or a gerund. If it's a participle it needs a helping verb which will determine the tense:

I am doing. present tense use
I was doing. I have been doing. past tense use
I will be doing future tense use
I had been doing past historic or pluperfect tense use

If it's a gerund, then it's acting as a noun and has no tense.

Joycecwilliams · Apr 5, 2008

Inky said:
Thank you. As a supermod, I would have expected him to be a wee bit more sensitive to the fact that AW has members from many different countries/languages/cultures.
I too have issues with tense and read through this post...I'll thank the rest of you for posting samples. They've helped tremendously. I've had continued controversy over 'ing' vs 'ed', have done plenty of reading, and though am told 'ing' is for past tense, have seen it over and over as present tense.
Grrrrr...Enlish!

Hi Inky

I have some problems with tenses also..

I found a site that helps me.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/consistency.htm

Inky · Apr 6, 2008

Girly & Joyce--wow! Thanks much!!!

dpaterso · Apr 6, 2008

I'm surprised by a few of the responses above.

I'm aware English isn't Padma's first language.

I've read and replied to many of her posts.

What I said was neither untrue nor malicious.

Reading more English would certainly be a move in the right direction towards improving OP's written English. I think so anyway.

If I'm wrong to suggest that or if I've offended anyone's delicate sensibilities, so sorry.

-Derek

Tense

padnar

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Mumut

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absitinvidia

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maestrowork

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