Completed action in the past lead to an ongoing action - which tense to use?
I am a bit confused about the proper tense for the following situation. I try to make an example:
A couple of weeks ago I talked to someone. We have not talked or communicated in any way again since then. So this action is completed and lies in the past.
This talk lead to an action that takes place right now. So it is ongoing and in the present. Which form is grammatically correct:
- After a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
or even
- After having had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
- After I had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
Thank you very much in advance for your answer!
tenses past-tense sp-vs-past-perfect
New contributor
add a comment |
I am a bit confused about the proper tense for the following situation. I try to make an example:
A couple of weeks ago I talked to someone. We have not talked or communicated in any way again since then. So this action is completed and lies in the past.
This talk lead to an action that takes place right now. So it is ongoing and in the present. Which form is grammatically correct:
- After a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
or even
- After having had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
- After I had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
Thank you very much in advance for your answer!
tenses past-tense sp-vs-past-perfect
New contributor
Talking with Y last week led me to writing this sentence today. Or My talk with Y last week led to me writing this sentence today.
– Jim
yesterday
add a comment |
I am a bit confused about the proper tense for the following situation. I try to make an example:
A couple of weeks ago I talked to someone. We have not talked or communicated in any way again since then. So this action is completed and lies in the past.
This talk lead to an action that takes place right now. So it is ongoing and in the present. Which form is grammatically correct:
- After a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
or even
- After having had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
- After I had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
Thank you very much in advance for your answer!
tenses past-tense sp-vs-past-perfect
New contributor
I am a bit confused about the proper tense for the following situation. I try to make an example:
A couple of weeks ago I talked to someone. We have not talked or communicated in any way again since then. So this action is completed and lies in the past.
This talk lead to an action that takes place right now. So it is ongoing and in the present. Which form is grammatically correct:
- After a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I write this sentence.
- After a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
- After having a talk with Y, I am writing this sentence.
or even
- After having had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
- After I had a talk with Y, I write / am writing this sentence.
Thank you very much in advance for your answer!
tenses past-tense sp-vs-past-perfect
tenses past-tense sp-vs-past-perfect
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New contributor
edited yesterday
kalle
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asked yesterday
kallekalle
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Talking with Y last week led me to writing this sentence today. Or My talk with Y last week led to me writing this sentence today.
– Jim
yesterday
add a comment |
Talking with Y last week led me to writing this sentence today. Or My talk with Y last week led to me writing this sentence today.
– Jim
yesterday
Talking with Y last week led me to writing this sentence today. Or My talk with Y last week led to me writing this sentence today.
– Jim
yesterday
Talking with Y last week led me to writing this sentence today. Or My talk with Y last week led to me writing this sentence today.
– Jim
yesterday
add a comment |
2 Answers
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That unqualified use of after will always make people think it means directly after, so all of those are more confusing than things that are more explicit:
- I talked with X a few weeks back, but am only just now writing about it.
- Having talked with X a couple weeks ago, I’m now writing about what I learned then.
You can also use had in many narrative styles:
- I had talked with X about all this two week ago; now I’m finally getting around to writing about what I learned during our talk.
Thank you very much for thinking a bit out-of-the-box! What about the combination of after and a more explicit "time-stamp", such as "After an talk with X last month, I write"?
– kalle
yesterday
@kalle That's not too bad, although the simple present should in most circumstances be written as a progressive like am writing. Not always though.
– tchrist♦
yesterday
"Not always though." would refer to which circumstances? Thank you very much for your elaboration!
– kalle
yesterday
add a comment |
I see no difference between "After a talk with" and "After having a talk with"! Also, when you are writing about an ongoing action in the present, you need to use present continuous.
Therefore, I would choose number 3 and 4.
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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That unqualified use of after will always make people think it means directly after, so all of those are more confusing than things that are more explicit:
- I talked with X a few weeks back, but am only just now writing about it.
- Having talked with X a couple weeks ago, I’m now writing about what I learned then.
You can also use had in many narrative styles:
- I had talked with X about all this two week ago; now I’m finally getting around to writing about what I learned during our talk.
Thank you very much for thinking a bit out-of-the-box! What about the combination of after and a more explicit "time-stamp", such as "After an talk with X last month, I write"?
– kalle
yesterday
@kalle That's not too bad, although the simple present should in most circumstances be written as a progressive like am writing. Not always though.
– tchrist♦
yesterday
"Not always though." would refer to which circumstances? Thank you very much for your elaboration!
– kalle
yesterday
add a comment |
That unqualified use of after will always make people think it means directly after, so all of those are more confusing than things that are more explicit:
- I talked with X a few weeks back, but am only just now writing about it.
- Having talked with X a couple weeks ago, I’m now writing about what I learned then.
You can also use had in many narrative styles:
- I had talked with X about all this two week ago; now I’m finally getting around to writing about what I learned during our talk.
Thank you very much for thinking a bit out-of-the-box! What about the combination of after and a more explicit "time-stamp", such as "After an talk with X last month, I write"?
– kalle
yesterday
@kalle That's not too bad, although the simple present should in most circumstances be written as a progressive like am writing. Not always though.
– tchrist♦
yesterday
"Not always though." would refer to which circumstances? Thank you very much for your elaboration!
– kalle
yesterday
add a comment |
That unqualified use of after will always make people think it means directly after, so all of those are more confusing than things that are more explicit:
- I talked with X a few weeks back, but am only just now writing about it.
- Having talked with X a couple weeks ago, I’m now writing about what I learned then.
You can also use had in many narrative styles:
- I had talked with X about all this two week ago; now I’m finally getting around to writing about what I learned during our talk.
That unqualified use of after will always make people think it means directly after, so all of those are more confusing than things that are more explicit:
- I talked with X a few weeks back, but am only just now writing about it.
- Having talked with X a couple weeks ago, I’m now writing about what I learned then.
You can also use had in many narrative styles:
- I had talked with X about all this two week ago; now I’m finally getting around to writing about what I learned during our talk.
answered yesterday
tchrist♦tchrist
108k28290464
108k28290464
Thank you very much for thinking a bit out-of-the-box! What about the combination of after and a more explicit "time-stamp", such as "After an talk with X last month, I write"?
– kalle
yesterday
@kalle That's not too bad, although the simple present should in most circumstances be written as a progressive like am writing. Not always though.
– tchrist♦
yesterday
"Not always though." would refer to which circumstances? Thank you very much for your elaboration!
– kalle
yesterday
add a comment |
Thank you very much for thinking a bit out-of-the-box! What about the combination of after and a more explicit "time-stamp", such as "After an talk with X last month, I write"?
– kalle
yesterday
@kalle That's not too bad, although the simple present should in most circumstances be written as a progressive like am writing. Not always though.
– tchrist♦
yesterday
"Not always though." would refer to which circumstances? Thank you very much for your elaboration!
– kalle
yesterday
Thank you very much for thinking a bit out-of-the-box! What about the combination of after and a more explicit "time-stamp", such as "After an talk with X last month, I write"?
– kalle
yesterday
Thank you very much for thinking a bit out-of-the-box! What about the combination of after and a more explicit "time-stamp", such as "After an talk with X last month, I write"?
– kalle
yesterday
@kalle That's not too bad, although the simple present should in most circumstances be written as a progressive like am writing. Not always though.
– tchrist♦
yesterday
@kalle That's not too bad, although the simple present should in most circumstances be written as a progressive like am writing. Not always though.
– tchrist♦
yesterday
"Not always though." would refer to which circumstances? Thank you very much for your elaboration!
– kalle
yesterday
"Not always though." would refer to which circumstances? Thank you very much for your elaboration!
– kalle
yesterday
add a comment |
I see no difference between "After a talk with" and "After having a talk with"! Also, when you are writing about an ongoing action in the present, you need to use present continuous.
Therefore, I would choose number 3 and 4.
add a comment |
I see no difference between "After a talk with" and "After having a talk with"! Also, when you are writing about an ongoing action in the present, you need to use present continuous.
Therefore, I would choose number 3 and 4.
add a comment |
I see no difference between "After a talk with" and "After having a talk with"! Also, when you are writing about an ongoing action in the present, you need to use present continuous.
Therefore, I would choose number 3 and 4.
I see no difference between "After a talk with" and "After having a talk with"! Also, when you are writing about an ongoing action in the present, you need to use present continuous.
Therefore, I would choose number 3 and 4.
answered yesterday
BeatsMeBeatsMe
178110
178110
add a comment |
add a comment |
kalle is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Talking with Y last week led me to writing this sentence today. Or My talk with Y last week led to me writing this sentence today.
– Jim
yesterday