|
|
Help with tenses
Hi all.
The verbs which I don't know in what tense to put are marked by [?]: A note: Dear Jameson. The one who gives [?] you this note is our friend. Help him. Lisa. In a text adventure: >eat tablet No tablets have [?] left in the pack.
"The one who gave you this note ........"
If Jameson is reading this, it means the note has been received.
The passive here focuses attention on that which is important: the tablets. Consider "Nobody has left any tables in the pack." focus is drawn away from what you're after: the tablets.
Also "Dear Jameson. The one who gives you this note is our friend. Help him. Lisa." is fine too.
Thank you very much, Jim!
You replied when I had abandoned any hope that someone answers... One more question: Is «No tablets have left in the pack» grammatically incorrect, or it just sounds worse?
For example, in Prince of Persia (the original one) you get messages like:
«47 minutes left» — Past Simple, active voice. «47 minutes have been left» sounds awkward to me, can it be correct? And what about «47 minutes have left»? Thanks in advance.
"No tablets have left in the pack" doesn't make sense. That should read "(There are) no tablets left in the pack".
"No tablets have been left in the pack" implies someone removed all the tablets. So "47 minutes have been left" doesn't make sense because someone can't "remove" time, not even figuratively. Only "(there are) 47 minutes left" is valid, from your options.
Thanks.
Ok. Now I clearly understand that «47 minutes have been left» is incorrect. But, if to follow your explanation, «No tablets have been left in the pack» is correct only in case somebody has taken them. And «No tablets have left in pack» should be correct if the tablets have disappeared not due to a person. For example: «All his clothes got wet theough. He took a matchbox out of a pocket and found that no dry matches had left in there.» I think, the above is correct because it was the water which had spoiled the matches. Am I right? P.S.: Seems, I've made some more mistakes with tenses here, haven't I?
Guest: "47 minutes have been left" doesn't make sense because someone can't "remove" time, not even figuratively"
OK. I agree. And what about: I have no money left. (though I spent them all up by myself) How many books left in the store? (though the customers bought them up) It sounds OK, doesn't it? IMHO, it's not always about logic, sometimes about language's rules. Can't I say: No tablets left in my pack?
«All his clothes got wet theough. He took a matchbox out of a pocket and found that no dry matches had left in there.»
I would say: All his clothes got wet though. He took a matchbox out of a pocket but/and found no dry matches. "Had been left in there" implies that someone intentionally removed matches.
<<I have no money left. (though I spent them all up by myself)
How many books left in the store? (though the customers bought them up)>> I would write: I have no money left (I've/I spent it all) How many books (are) left in the store? (the customers bought a number of them) <<Can't I say: No tablets left in my pack? >> Yes, or "no tablets are left in my pack". This indicates how many matches remain, without the implication of "have been left".
So, «no tablets left» is not Past Simple, but a shortage for «no tablets are left»?
And nevertheless, is «no tablets've left» correct or not? |