Question on which tense to use for a listening exercise

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learning54

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Hi teachers,
If the students are listening to a story and they listen to sentences in the simple past and simple present, should I ask them questions only in the simple past because the story was in the past?

Or the other way around, should I ask them questions according to the sentences they listen to? I mean if they listen to a sentence in the simple past my question should be in the simple past, if they listen to a sentence in the simple present my question should be in the simple present, if they listen to a sentence in future my question should be in future too, and so on.

Thanks in advannce
 

emsr2d2

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Did we not have an exchange of comments about this very question a few weeks ago? It sounds very familiar.
 

learning54

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Did we not have an exchange of comments about this very question a few weeks ago? It sounds very familiar.

Did we? :shock: Let me look at my posts. Probably my unique working neuron is not working very well today.

Yes we did!!!:oops:
It is on this post.

Which tense to use for questions based on a story

You even asked to decide about these ones, and I've said the first one! You agree on that. I'm starting to worry about my brain.

Q1: Where is the man?
Q2: What is he wearing?
Q3: Does he have a gun?

OR

Q1: Where was the man?
Q2: What was he wearing?
Q3: Did he have a gun?

Which of those sets of questions sounds most natural to you. I know which set I think is the most natural but see if you get the same feeling.
 
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emsr2d2

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:) Don't worry - teaching for a living will do that to your brain! If it helps, my answer remains the same.
 

learning54

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:) Don't worry - teaching for a living will do that to your brain!.

Thank you!!! It doen't mean that I feel better, but now I have an explanation.:up:


Best,
L54
 

sumon.

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Hi ma'am.
What do you mean by very? I understand what you have meant in this sentence.
about this very question a few weeks ago?

Thanks
 

Raymott

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Probably my unique working neuron is not working very well today.
'único' can mean 'unique', as well as 'only' or 'sole'. But 'unique' doesn't seem to work here.
 

learning54

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'único' can mean 'unique', as well as 'only' or 'sole'. But 'unique' doesn't seem to work here.
Hi Raymott,
Thank you for your commentary. I didn't know you also understand Spanish!
Will 'only' be better in this case?
 

emsr2d2

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You'd probably be better off with "my one and only brain cell" if you're being a bit sarcastic about yourself.

As far as my "this very question" goes it means "this exact question" or "exactly the same question".

- Was that the man you saw stealing the car?
- Yes, that's the very man.

- I bought a wedding dress. Here it is. Do you like it?
- Wow, what a coincidence. That's the very dress I was considering for my wedding!
 

Raymott

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Hi Raymott,
Thank you for your commentary. I didn't know you also understand Spanish!
Will 'only' be better in this case?
Yes, or "my single/lone brain cell"
 

learning54

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You'd probably be better off with "my one and only brain cell" if you're being a bit sarcastic about yourself.

Hi,
Thank you for your explanation.
 
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