There I was sitting at a desk in the library

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NamelessKing

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Could you please correct my sentences?

There I was sitting at a desk in the library working on my computer when all of a sudden the fire alarm (went or goes?) off. I figured it was just a malfunction, as it sounds every day for a few seconds, but it kept ringing. Soon after, a member of the staff came and told us to leave the building. I though to myself "this may be a fire drill" but later I learned a fire was actually occurring in one corridor.
 

Tarheel

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The fire alarm went off.

There actually was a fire.
 

Yankee

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"Went", but "goes" works if the speaker tries to place the listener in the situation of the moment as, "I am sitting at a desk.......when the alarm goes off".
 

NamelessKing

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"Went", but "goes" works if the speaker tries to place the listener in the situation of the moment as, "I am sitting at a desk.......when the alarm goes off".
So the entire piece should be written in present simple?
 

NamelessKing

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Did you notice the word "if"?
I did. So if I want to change the style, all the verbs should be in present simple, right?
 
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Rover_KE

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Yes.

Please note that I've moved this thread to the Editing & Writing Topics forum. If you're asking for proofreading of passages of more than one sentence, please post them here.
 

emsr2d2

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I have merged your two threads with identical titles. There was no need for a new thread.
 

NamelessKing

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I have merged your two threads with identical titles. There was no need for a new thread.

I don't recall creating a new thread. xD
 

Rover_KE

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