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 verb tense?
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HouseFan43ver
Posted: Feb 11 2007, 02:58 AM


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I'm working on a story right now and I can't figure out what verb tense to use, past (He pulled) or present (Pulling). I'm a bit confused as to which one I use. Thanks.

God and peace
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nomad1328
Posted: Feb 11 2007, 03:05 AM


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depends on the context I suppose... What tense have you been using throughout?


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tpel1
Posted: Feb 11 2007, 10:11 PM


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Present tense can convey a sense of immediacy that you might want for short introspective pieces. But for longer stories, particularly those involving multiple characters, present tense can become awkward, requiring over-use of the verb "is": Foreman is scowling, Cameron is moralizing, Chase is hiding, etc.

A combination is possible, but only under carefully controlled circumstances. In my House/Holmes story, I've been using past tense for the regular narration, but switching to present tense for the flashbacks. So far, nobody has complained that this technique is annoying . . . tongue.gif
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HouseFan43ver
Posted: Feb 12 2007, 06:31 PM


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okay thanks for the help. That makes sense smile.gif

God and peace
Vanessa smile.gif


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Please visit my fish name House:
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Catlady
Posted: Feb 12 2007, 11:03 PM


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I'll echo what everyone else says, with a caveat. It's a bit harder to pull off present tense in my experience-- I keep trying to do it, then realize that it's not working. That of course doesn't mean that you can't do it. If all else fails, write a passage or two in both tenses and see which one "feels" better.


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One cat just leads to another-- Ernest Hemingway

Here’s how to become a great artist. First, get miserable. Misery drives you to become a great artist, but the art does nothing for your misery,
--Greg House, MD (Episode 2:23, Who's Your Daddy?)
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HouseFan43ver
Posted: Feb 13 2007, 12:52 AM


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Thanks so much for ya'lls imput it's been helpful smile.gif

God and peace
Vanessa smile.gif


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Please visit my fish name House:
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Armchair Elvis
Posted: Feb 13 2007, 01:34 AM


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Most of what I was going to say has been said, but I will add one thing: Switching from one tense to another is a nasty business.

Cheers,
AE.


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Armchair Elvis
Posted: Feb 13 2007, 06:49 PM


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...

How about he pulls?


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Friedrich Nietzsche? You stopped talking because of Friedrich Nietzsche? Far out.

-- Little Miss Sunshine
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