A question about tense with regard to the sequential order
Assume that there are two texts written in sequential order, Text B having awareness of Text A. In the context where we discuss Text B in the present tense, in what tense should we refer to Text A? In a sentence like, “B adresses this certain problem, which A fails/failed to do,” is it more conventional to emphasis the temporal relation between A and B by using the past tense “failed” or is it more so to treat both texts as if they exist on the different points of a vast plane of flat time by using the present tense for B as well?
Thank you for your help.
tenses
asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
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Assume that there are two texts written in sequential order, Text B having awareness of Text A. In the context where we discuss Text B in the present tense, in what tense should we refer to Text A? In a sentence like, “B adresses this certain problem, which A fails/failed to do,” is it more conventional to emphasis the temporal relation between A and B by using the past tense “failed” or is it more so to treat both texts as if they exist on the different points of a vast plane of flat time by using the present tense for B as well?
Thank you for your help.
tenses
asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
1
New contributor
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Either is acceptable. It's also dependent on context. (How the surrounding text is written.)
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
add a comment |
Assume that there are two texts written in sequential order, Text B having awareness of Text A. In the context where we discuss Text B in the present tense, in what tense should we refer to Text A? In a sentence like, “B adresses this certain problem, which A fails/failed to do,” is it more conventional to emphasis the temporal relation between A and B by using the past tense “failed” or is it more so to treat both texts as if they exist on the different points of a vast plane of flat time by using the present tense for B as well?
Thank you for your help.
tenses
asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
1
New contributor
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Assume that there are two texts written in sequential order, Text B having awareness of Text A. In the context where we discuss Text B in the present tense, in what tense should we refer to Text A? In a sentence like, “B adresses this certain problem, which A fails/failed to do,” is it more conventional to emphasis the temporal relation between A and B by using the past tense “failed” or is it more so to treat both texts as if they exist on the different points of a vast plane of flat time by using the present tense for B as well?
Thank you for your help.
tenses
tenses
asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
1
New contributor
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
1
New contributor
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
1
New contributor
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
1
asked 2 days ago
ASquashStarchedASquashStarched
1
1
New contributor
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
ASquashStarched is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Either is acceptable. It's also dependent on context. (How the surrounding text is written.)
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
add a comment |
Either is acceptable. It's also dependent on context. (How the surrounding text is written.)
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Either is acceptable. It's also dependent on context. (How the surrounding text is written.)
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Either is acceptable. It's also dependent on context. (How the surrounding text is written.)
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
add a comment |
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Either is acceptable. It's also dependent on context. (How the surrounding text is written.)
– Jason Bassford
yesterday