shootingstar
Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2022
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- German
- Home Country
- Germany
- Current Location
- Germany
. . .
Dr. Gibbs: I've decided to raise your spending money twenty-five cents a week. Not, of course, for chopping wood for your mother., because that's a present you give her, but because you're getting older - and I imagine there are lots of things you must find to do with it.
George: Thanks Pa
Dr. Gibbs: Let's see - tomorrow's your payday. You can count on it - Hmm. Probably Rebecca'll feel she ought to have some more too. Wonder what could have happened to your mother. Choir practice never was as late as this before.
George: It's only half past eight, Pa.
Dr. Gibbs: I don't know why she's in that old choir. She hasn't any more voice than an old crow. . . . Traipsin' around the streets at this hour of the night . . . Just about time you retired, don't you think?
George: Yes, Pa.
George mounts to his place on the ladder.
Laughter and good nights can be heard . . .
(Thornton Wilder, Our Town, Act I)
I have an issue with retired. It's past simple but I would expect present simple here. What does the past simple express in this sentence? Maybe you have to add another word. What does the whole sentence express?
Dr. Gibbs: I've decided to raise your spending money twenty-five cents a week. Not, of course, for chopping wood for your mother., because that's a present you give her, but because you're getting older - and I imagine there are lots of things you must find to do with it.
George: Thanks Pa
Dr. Gibbs: Let's see - tomorrow's your payday. You can count on it - Hmm. Probably Rebecca'll feel she ought to have some more too. Wonder what could have happened to your mother. Choir practice never was as late as this before.
George: It's only half past eight, Pa.
Dr. Gibbs: I don't know why she's in that old choir. She hasn't any more voice than an old crow. . . . Traipsin' around the streets at this hour of the night . . . Just about time you retired, don't you think?
George: Yes, Pa.
George mounts to his place on the ladder.
Laughter and good nights can be heard . . .
(Thornton Wilder, Our Town, Act I)
I have an issue with retired. It's past simple but I would expect present simple here. What does the past simple express in this sentence? Maybe you have to add another word. What does the whole sentence express?
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