Results 1 to 6 of 6
Like Tree3Likes
  • 1 Post By David L.
  • 1 Post By Clark
  • 1 Post By Raymott

Thread: Sentence Error

  1. #1
    maccaroo is offline Newbie
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    2

    Default Sentence Error

    I do not understand how this sentence is wrong. Please help.

    We´ve been working on this for too long. It´s high time we will finish it.

  2. #2
    Raymott's Avatar
    Raymott is online now VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Australia
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    16,338

    Default Re: Sentence Error

    Quote Originally Posted by maccaroo View Post
    I do not understand how this sentence is wrong. Please help.

    We´ve been working on this for too long. It´s high time we will finish it.
    We've been working on this for too long. Correct
    It's high time we will finish it. Wrong.
    It's high time we finished it = It's about time we finished it. Correct.

  3. #3
    David L. is offline VIP Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    5,425

    Default Re: Sentence Error

    If somebody says, "We've been working on this too long", it implies, 'we should have finished it by now."

    Your next sentence starts: "It's high time.." : this means, in the context of your sentence, 'NOW is actually beyond the time when we should have finished it - but it's still not too late (if we get it done quickly)'
    So, the reader of the sentence expects you to tell them, what action is to be done NOW, or very quickly. Instead, the sentence goes on:
    'we will finish it'.
    This is Future tense. So - 'we will finish it tomorrow/next week/some day'

    As it is written, the meaning of the sentence is like saying: Quick, let's get it done quickly ...nah, no, as long as it gets done - let's just promise that sometime in the future, someday, it will be done - we will finish it eventually.
    maccaroo likes this.

  4. #4
    maccaroo is offline Newbie
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Sentence Error

    Thanks for the help guys.

    Just one more quickie. Even though finished is the past tense of the verb. Is the sentence 'It's high time we finished it', still classed as the present tense?

  5. #5
    Clark is offline Key Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    1,573

    Default Re: Sentence Error

    Quote Originally Posted by maccaroo View Post
    Thanks for the help guys.

    Just one more quickie. Even though finished is the past tense of the verb. Is the sentence 'It's high time we finished it', still classed as the present tense?
    It refers to the present, let's put it that way to avoid debates on tenses and moods.
    maccaroo likes this.

  6. #6
    Raymott's Avatar
    Raymott is online now VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Australia
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    16,338

    Default Re: Sentence Error

    Quote Originally Posted by maccaroo View Post
    Thanks for the help guys.

    Just one more quickie. Even though finished is the past tense of the verb. Is the sentence 'It's high time we finished it', still classed as the present tense?
    No, it's in the present tense, but it's subjunctive, which often has the effect of using a past tense form.
    Eg.
    If I am well, I will run the marathon.
    If I were well, I would run the marathon.
    maccaroo likes this.

Similar Threads

  1. [Grammar] Error Identification
    By ocean_soul in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-Jul-2008, 20:52
  2. Error in the sentence
    By kamlesh1joshi in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 29-Apr-2008, 16:26
  3. Error in the sentence
    By kamlesh1joshi in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 29-Apr-2008, 15:07
  4. Replies: 4
    Last Post: 27-Jun-2006, 13:08
  5. grammar
    By jiang in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 17-Dec-2003, 19:02

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1