Verb tenses

erehwon · Post by **erehwon** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:01 pm

Since, we haven't gone really far in the project. I guess it's a good idea to speak about tenses. Well, another reason is because I suck at grammar in general.

The Unified Format Guideline forum has some interesting pieces that might help.

Since I'm translating this from Chinese, I don't think there is just thing as conjugation of verbs in that language. I eat tomorrow, I eat yesterday. I eat right now.

I usually used past tense if something is said and done. I use present if it's not. That's my rule of thumb...

Any other suggestions?

erehwon · Post by **erehwon** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:56 pm

ok, an example of tense confusion:

“Call forth the Suzerain.”

Kazuma absolutely ignoring the killing intent from all directions, arrogantly commanded.

So should it be commanded or commands?

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:49 pm

I've been having the same delema while editing ZnT. I've just been putting everything into past tense, since most stories I've read are in past tense, plus it's personal preference.

erehwon · Post by **erehwon** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:31 pm

what is the past tense of say?

Post by **BaKaFiSh** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:53 pm

said, lol

Jumpyshoes · Post by **Jumpyshoes** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:18 pm

erehwon wrote:ok, an example of tense confusion:

“Call forth the Suzerain.”

Kazuma absolutely ignoring the killing intent from all directions, arrogantly commanded.
So should it be commanded or commands?

I'm pretty sure it's commanded. As I said before, I never learned grammer, so I just go by what sounds right to me (and I'm American so it's all good). When posting stuff like this, context might help. Oh yea, if you use MS word, don't trust it all the time. It has something against passive voice.

Forgot to add this. Dictionary dot com helps. But its not always 100% acurate. Merriam Webster (spelling?) is also helpful.

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:12 pm

"Commands" could also work, but like I said, I use past tense out of preference.

erehwon · Post by **erehwon** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:27 pm

yeh i thought so, past tense of say is said. I'm going to use past tense in that instance: commanded.

If you read, most of the time you read something like so-and-so said, "blah blah." Something like that or so-and-so asked, "blah blah?"

I think in this instance, past tense is better to describe what someone said.

Does this make sense?

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:35 pm

Yeah, telling a story in present tense sometimes ends up with weird description of actions that are happening.

Jumpyshoes · Post by **Jumpyshoes** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:35 pm

So when discribing what someone said, use past tense? And when someone is talking, use past tense?

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:37 pm

It's fine to use present tense where appropiate in dialouge.

Jumpyshoes · Post by **Jumpyshoes** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:39 pm

Dan wrote:It's fine to use present tense where appropiate in dialouge.

Okay.

erehwon · Post by **erehwon** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:50 pm

Quote:
When he saw it, he was honestly, completely stunned.

Quote from chapter 1

Quote:
In order to understand the situation, the Fuga Clan were summoned, thus Hyoue himself gathered the youma ki in the air to understand who the enemy is.

The first one is probably alright, second one "is". I'm not too sure, I guess since the enemy is still the enemy, isn't an enemy of the past, so that's why I used is?

Any comments or suggestions?

TheGiftedMonkey · Post by **TheGiftedMonkey** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:09 pm

erehwon wrote:
Quote:
When he saw it, he was honestly, completely stunned.

Quote from chapter 1

Quote:
In order to understand the situation, the Fuga Clan were summoned, thus Hyoue himself gathered the youma ki in the air to understand who the enemy is.
The first one is probably alright, second one "is". I'm not too sure, I guess since the enemy is still the enemy, isn't an enemy of the past, so that's why I used is?

Any comments or suggestions?

In the first one just take out honestly so its...
"When he (<- would sound better if you put his name here) saw it, he completely stunned."

"In order to understand the situation, the Fuga Clan was summoned. Hyoue gathered the youma ki in the air to understand who the enemy is."

"In order to understand the situation, the Fuga Clan members were summoned. Hyoue gathered the youma ki in the air to understand who the enemy is."

If hes gather the ki, is trying to "identify" who the enemy is instead of "understanding" it?

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:16 pm

erehwon wrote:
Quote:
When he saw it, he was honestly, completely stunned.

Quote from chapter 1

Quote:
In order to understand the situation, the Fuga Clan were summoned, thus Hyoue himself gathered the youma ki in the air to understand who the enemy is.
The first one is probably alright, second one "is". I'm not too sure, I guess since the enemy is still the enemy, isn't an enemy of the past, so that's why I used is?

Any comments or suggestions?

It can work, but to me it feels a bit odd since "the Fuga clan was summoned" (not "were summoned", clan is a singular noun, although it is a group of people) and "Hyoue himself gathered", both of the verbs in these phrases are past tense.