- Joined
- Oct 14, 2010
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- Czech Republic
- Current Location
- Czech Republic
We have had several enquiries recently about mixing tenses. Some learners appear to be under the impression that only one tense can be used for all the verbs in one sentence. This is just not so. There is no restriction on what tenses we can use and mix, if they are appropriate for the context:
I have heard that Emma left Manchester this morning, and has already arrived in London, where she will be/she will be staying for the next three weeks while she is finishing her dissertation.
She (had) hoped that she would be able to complete it before she left England next month but it is proving more difficult than she (had) expected, and she needs to be close to the British Museum if she is going to have any chance of finishing this month.
I have heard that Emma left Manchester this morning, and has already arrived in London, where she will be/she will be staying for the next three weeks while she is finishing her dissertation.
She (had) hoped that she would be able to complete it before she left England next month but it is proving more difficult than she (had) expected, and she needs to be close to the British Museum if she is going to have any chance of finishing this month.
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