Can I say "I told you he is going to the book club" when he has already gone there by now; or is it necessary to back-shift it to past i.e. "I told you he was going to the book club".  So will I be understood perfectly if I used the "is going" version (not back=shifting it). This situation seems new to me. So I thought I'd ask that: Does it seem difficult to understand for the other person if we do not back-shift to past??. And is it gramaticaly correct??
12775
I know the past tense carries the past tense in every dependent clause, but referring specifically to places or to things that are eternal, like the Earth, seems a bit weird and therefore we sometimes (I believe incorrectly) say     He didn't know that New Jersey was actually on the East Coast.   Because it still is. Or     He thought the Earth was round.   So is it square now?  Logically speaking, would you consider the use of past tense here a bit confusing in a day-to-day speech in these examples? Would you instinctively opt for using the present tense?
101267
I'm not sure "Being away" is a present participle or a gerund ? If it's a gerund , according to the rule "possessive before gerund" ,then   "I'm used to his being away" should be correct. Am i right ?
64677
Note: this post is different to , which just cites part from somewhere else, without any further analysis and thinking. Furthermore, none of the answers to that post answers my question - the situations where &quot;will (going to) be doing&quot; is more appropriate.   I will be participating in IELTS test next Tuesday afternoon.  In an online class, the teacher says the following at the beginning of the lesson.  I will be using NotePod (pointed out by red rectangle) to write relevant points we talk about today.   I guess &quot;will be using&quot; is more appropriate than &quot;will use&quot; there, right?  A  explains  This &quot;tense&quot; is used for reporting a scheduled activity with special focus on its timing— as if one is standing in the future and experiencing the flow of the time. The focus is on the temporary, ongoing, or repetitive nature of the activity.   I understand the grammar rules of those verb tenses and the difference between this group  I am going to drive home tomorrow.   I am going to be driving home tomorrow.  The former is just convey my activity in the near future while the latter probably makes an implication that &quot;don't disturb me as I am driving in that time&quot; However, in the following situations, I don't see the difference between 2 verb tenses.  Welcome back to this class. Today's lesson is for the IELTS students who are going to be taking the IELTS test. it's for everybody to be honest with you. this lesson is useful for anybody who needs to do some writing.   who are going to take the IELTS test ...
25162
I just saw a , where one of the characters says:     it must be cast back in the fire from whence it came!   This struck me as odd, since I expected them to say "whence it came"; but now I find that "from whence" seems to occur as well.  Does anybody know whether this is correct, or whether it has been correct at some point and subsequently fell into disgrace (or vice versa)?
30146
Put the book back on the table.   I'm having trouble. I think it is a preposition.
91746
Accourding to ,   We often use "been to" when we refer to completed visits to a place:  Have you ever been to Budapest?  Not: Have you ever gone to Budapest?  If the visit is not complete, we use "gone to".  Joan’s just gone to the shop. She’ll be back in about ten minutes. (Joan has not yet returned from the shop.)  Joan’s just been to the shop. She bought some cakes. Would you like one? (Joan has returned from the shop.)  Now, does that rule apply to the  "Have been on a trip" &amp; "Have gone on a trip"?  So, "I have been on a trip" (I completed the trip &amp; currently I am staying at home)  "I have gone on a trip" (I haven't completed the trip &amp; currently I am on the trip)  And what about "gone crazy" &amp; "been crazy".  Does "He has gone crazy" mean now he is still crazy?  Does "He has been crazy" mean now he is not crazy any more?  Are there any differences between "Have been on a trip" vs "Have gone on a trip" and "Have been crazy" vs "Have gone crazy"?  Note: I am not asking about "been to" or "gone to". I am asking about "been on a trip" &amp; "gone on a trip". Do we apply the same rule of "been to" or "gone to" to "been on a trip" &amp; "gone on a trip"?  Note2:  seems to prove that my thinking is right.
86695
The situation is that:  We've already read three English novels.  Which is the correct question for that situation?   Who has already read three English novels?  Who have already read three English novels?    Or could both be correct? Please also provide the grammatical reasons for your answers.
41983
My teacher said "I am going to have a walk" today in class and to me it seems incorrect. Correct variants that I know are:    Going for a walk Going to take a walk Going to walk  ...   Is this correct? If so, why?
77121
I just would like to know if this sentence would be grammatically correct and in which cases should I use it:  I don't know when he is back instead of he will be back . I know the rule with when "no will" in most cases but we can say" please let me know when it will be available or when it is available"  If that's not correct let me know why please
57792
May I ask what the logic is behind using present perfect/infinitive + present perfect in "present perfect + since + present perfect" sentences?     it has been a while since I have enjoyed a party this much.   and     It's been a long time since I have read an interesting book.   Why is it not present perfect + past simple? I understand the "it's been" part, since it's something that is still relevant or going on. But if I'm referring to a specific past event, why should present perfect even be considered?  2) Also, I've seen people replace infinitive forms with present perfects:  "You must be surprised to receive a letter from me" = "You must be surprised to have received a letter from me"  Is there such thing as an infinitive present perfect? How is this construction possible?   Please help me understand!
73017
English not my native language. I'm trying to understand what would be correct in British English.  If I want to use a car for some time. I can say, "I want to rent a car". But from my knowledge there may be a  misunderstanding. I can say the same words if I want to give a car to someone to use for some time and I want to receive payment.  So what would be correct and not misunderstanding?   1) I want to use a car for some time = "I want to hire a car" 2) I want to give a car to someone to use for some time = "rent out a car"   Is my understanding correct?
120502
A colleague asked me which of these sentences is correct, or if they are both correct which is better to use.   Are you using the current template version? Do you use the current template version?   I recommended using the first sentence but only because it sounds better to me.  Is there anything grammatically wrong with the second sentence or does it convey a different meaning to the first sentence?
63355
My name is Tom and my friend's name is Anna.  Anna has a plan to go to Croatia in summer(she bought her flight tickets)  if I talk about her plans , is ''will'' or ''going to '' correct to use in the sentence?(when talking about someone else's plans)  A) Anna will fly to Croatia in summer.  B)Anna is going to fly to Croatia in summer.  if I talk about my planned actions 'going to' is used ,  EX;  I am going to fly to Croatia in summer (not I will.......)  which one (will or going to) is supposed to be used for the context above?
7181
At the dentist's:     I was on time for my dentist's appointment, but the dentist was still busy with another patient, so I sat in the waiting room and read some of the old magazines lying there. All the while I was wondering whether to leave and come back another day .   Why past simple here and not past continuous? To me both actions are in progress they are not completed
70373
I bought this bike in|on|from|at an online store.  I bought this bike in|on|from|at November 13.  I bought this bike in|on|from|at a sale.  What is the appropriate situation where the words in, on, from, and at should be used?    I think something similar has been asked before, but I can't seem to find it in this SE site.
55266
While changing direct to indirect speech, we generally back shift the tense.  Example -  "I have finished my work."             (Direct speech) He said that he had finished his work.  (Indirect speech)  In this example present perfect tense is back shifted to past perfect tense.     NOTE : There is an exception to this rule : At the time of reporting, if the reported words are still true or still relevant then back shifting is optional. For example: "He said that he has lost his keys." Here present perfect tense is not back shifted because at the time of reporting situation is still relevant. By relevant I mean that the consequence of losing his key can still be seen or heard.    Now my main question(s) is:   Context: Recently an earthquake came in India and Nepal. Thousands of people have lost their lives. Rescue operation is on its way.   Now consider the example which is not an indirect speech: "The President learned that this earthquake has caused destruction all across Nepal and India."   First: tell me, here is it correct to use "has caused" under the context that situation is still relevant, i.e. the aftermath of the earthquake can still be seen?  Second: Here is back shifting optional or obligatory?    Another question:   You see, my intention of asking question is -  In sentence structure of indirect speech like - (He said +........... , He informed +....... , He claimed + .......... ), I am aware that if the situation is still relevant then back shifting of present perfect tense is optional.   But what if the sentence structure is something like - ( He learned + ........... , He noticed +.......... , He found +....... ) here also is back shifting of present perfect tense optional if the situation is still relevant ?  P.S. : My question concerns only present perfect tense.
90118
I posted a question today about ""and I used the verb "find" in the progressive.:  I'm finding more and more that "having to" is also used instead of "have to".  Someone comments it's a "recency illusion" or a stereotypical characteristic of Indian English. I'm not a native speaker of English, and I never have been in touch with Indian a bit. I've been reading about stative verbs in the progressiveand I've seen and heard them not a few times in movies, dramas, novels, games, grammars, most of which are put out in the U.S.A. or the U.K., so I thought it would be OK to use the special progressive use in proper contexts, but now I think I'm missing something important, and I'm confused a lot. If you know what it is, please tell me about it with good explanations and examples. Now I'm going to show you some of the examples of the progressive with stative verbs that I've been collecting on my own for two years or so, (quite a few of them from grammars, some from dramas, novels and stuff...) and I want to know you native speakers' opinions on that. If your views on the usage diverge a lot, I'm going to have to think about which side I'm on,and one of the two is preferred over the other, then I'll follow it.        It’s mattering more and more which university you get your degree at.   She is not finding London totally easy.   I’m finding (=discovering, realizing) that his problem is more complicated than I had expected.   No, I’m sort of thinking that I’d like to try a bit higher level heel, anyway.   I’m thinking that we should pay a short visit to Clara.   One night in the middle of the night, I'm hearing dripping.   How are you liking your new job?   I was quite liking the performance until the first interval.   Tim, are you wanting any fruit?   It sounds that you're wanting to take care of yourself physically as well.   The only thing I'm lacking is a wardrobe.   He’s forgetting his French faster and faster.    I'm already forgetting what I was taught this morning.   You're forgetting that our resources are not unlimited.   I’m forgetting that I promised to visit Smith this evening.   The river is smelling particularly bad today.   My scarf is no longer smelling of lavender.   She’s looking much stronger this week.   You’re looking more like a sleep dog than most sleep dogs.   He’s looking worse and worse by the minute.   Your soup is tasting better every day.   That example is sounding less and less acceptable with each repetition.       ※. What I'm asking you is as follows:  1. the validity of the expression "I'm finding more and more that..." in the context of the original post 2. whether or not stative verbs in the progressive is widely acceptable &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and questions about your opinions on that &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (As I already said, if most of you reject the usage like the examples, then I should avoid it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If most of you welcome it, I'll keep on with it.)