I am watching...

[Polyester]

Is the following sentence correct or not?

I'm sometimes watching your video to make myself happy.

 

[tedmc]

Is the following sentence correct or not?

I[STRIKE]'m[/STRIKE] sometimes watch[STRIKE]ing[/STRIKE] your video to make myself happy.

Use the simple present tense for repeated/habitual actions.

 

[Polyester]

One more question,

Is it possible to use past tense? For example, I watched your Youtube channel since I was 20 years old. Your vlog and post not only cheer myself up, but also cheer people up around the world.

 

[teechar]

I've watched your YouTube channel since I was 20 years old. Your vlog and posts not only cheer [STRIKE]myself[/STRIKE] me up, but also cheer [STRIKE]people[/STRIKE] up many other people around the world.

You need the present perfect (not the past simple). Do you know why?

 

[Polyester]

Hi teechar,

If I have to use the past tense for above-mentioned sentences, it doesn't make any sense. It can't connect to the present. If I choose to use the present perfect tense, it can connect to the present and these sentences have happened in the present. The main connections are these activities both are happening at the present. I should use present perfect tense for this issue.

Am I correct?

 

[teechar]

You're right, but I was hoping you would mention the word "since".
Note that "I've watched your YouTube channel since I was 20 years old" means:
I started watching that channel when I was 20 years old, and I still watch it now.

 

[Polyester]

Hi teechar,

Since connects to the present perfect tense. If people have to use "since", that word must be connected to present perfect.

 

[teechar]

The word "since" connects the past time to the present time. [STRIKE]perfect tense.[/STRIKE] If people [STRIKE]have to[/STRIKE] use "since", [STRIKE]that word[/STRIKE] they must [STRIKE]be connected to[/STRIKE] use the present perfect.

That's one of the uses of "since".

 

[emsr2d2]

It doesn't necessarily connect to the present time (ie right now). It can connect to what the present time was in terms of the time period being discussed.

I'm really tired. I've been up since 5am. (Here, "since" connects to the present - this is made clear by using the present "I'm" at the start.)

I saw Helen yesterday morning. She looked really tired. It was hardly surprising because she'd been up since 5am. (Here, "since" is connected to 5am yesterday morning. It was relevant to the time yesterday that the speaker saw Helen.)