[Grammar] "Were you late?" Is this correct?

Status
Not open for further replies.

RajaGanesh

New member
Joined
May 13, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Tamil
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
Hi,

I am a beginner.

If I want to ask person, whether he is late to office. How should I ask him?
 

charliedeut

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
That would depend:

"Were you late (today/yesterday/this morning)?" is correct for one specific time.
"Are you (always/usually) late?" is correct if you are asking about that person's habit of being late. It could also imply that it bothers you.

There are more possibilities, depending on different contexts.

charliedeut
 

BobK

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2006
Location
Spencers Wood, near Reading, UK
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
:up: Some examples:

Outside the door: 'Are you late?'/'No, I'm on holiday. But there's something I need to do.'
In work, in the afternoon: 'Were you late this morning?'
Seeing someone arrive 20 minutes early: 'Are you ever late?'
Etc, etc, as charliedeut said.

b
 

RajaGanesh

New member
Joined
May 13, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Tamil
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
:up: Some examples:

Outside the door: 'Are you late?'/'No, I'm on holiday. But there's something I need to do.'
In work, in the afternoon: 'Were you late this morning?'
Seeing someone arrive 20 minutes early: 'Are you ever late?'
Etc, etc, as charliedeut said.

b



Thanks!!
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
RajaGanesh, instead of sending your thanks in a separate message and quoting our replies back to us, just click the Like button please.

The reason is that it is flagged as a new post, so we think you might have a follow-up question or something to add. Those of us with slow internet connections and/or old computers have to waste valuable time waiting for it to appear.

Thank you.

Rover​


 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top