Past tense vs present tense

[LeTyan]

Hi,

When a native speaker describes a past event to another person, I have both heard past tense and present tense used. So my question is, is there any inclination to any one of those?


Thank you!

 

[Barb_D]

We sometimes use "the narrative present" to make the story feel more vivid to our listeners.
You can use either, but I personally find it exhausting to read a story in the present, but when someone is speaking it can add excitement to the telling.

 

[Raymott]

Hi,

When a native speaker describes a past event to another person, I have both heard past tense and present tense used. So my question is, is there any inclination to any one of those?


Thank you!

There's a definite inclination of most people to relate past events in the simple past.