Past tense vs Present tense (called yesterday our friends in Boston)

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,
Please have a look at this:

We called yesterday our friends in Boston to tell them about the reunion party that we are planning
-> This is one more mistake correcting task. The mistake is surely in “called yesterday our friends in Boston” but how about the phrase “that we are planning”? why is it used in present tense why the antecedent clause is in past tense? is it wrong?

Many thanks in anticipation :smiley:
Nessie

2

Yes, it’s wrong. It should be "We called yesterday our friends in Boston to tell them about the reunion party that we were planning.

3

Hi Haihao,

I’ve just thought of something for this and I want to share my idea here :slight_smile:
Perhaps “that we are planning” is still ok in that sentence because yesterday is the near past and the act of our party planning is still in progress (and may be will still be progress), so the author of this sentence want to use present tense instead of past tense to indicate that idea.

What do you think? :slight_smile:

4

I agree with you, nessie. It’s alright to use it especially in not-so-strict English but I still doubt if it would be taken as a correct answer when you meet it in a test, like TOEFL. Just my tow cents.

Haihao

5

Hi Nessie

The placement of the word ‘yesterday’ isn’t good. It would be better at the beginning of the sentence or possibly after ‘our friends in Boston’.

The use of ‘are planning’ is fine in the context.
.

6

Hi

I think the “are planning” suggests that the plan is still in progress.

The “were” planning could be used in a different context, that maybe the party has been canceled.

I agree with Amy that the position of yesterday is awkward.

cheers stew.t.

7

Thanks a lot, everybody :slight_smile:

I just want to repeat Haihao’s question: Is this usage accept in very formal exams like TOELF or IELTS.

Many thanks
Nessie

8

I honestly cannot understand why “are planning” is not acceptle in every context, including exams. The plans are still in progress. If you said “were planning” then it sounds like perhaps you are no longer planning the party.

The only problem with the original sentence – one that WOULD be conisdered incorrect in just about every context – is the placement of “yesterday.”

The backshift in tense in reported speech is always okay, but is NOT required when the subject remains true. It is NOT wrong to leave it in the present tense.

9

Hi Nessie

It would surprise me greatly if the use of ‘are planning’ in a sentence such as yours were not accepted on a test such as the TOEFL.
.

10

Thanks a lot, Amy and Barb :slight_smile: I got the point now :slight_smile:

Hi Amy,
Could you please tell me why you use “on a test” instead of “in a test” in your sentence? Is “in a test” correct and if yes, what’s the difference between the two usages?

Many thanks in advance
Nessie :slight_smile:

11

Hi Nessie

I suppose some people might use ‘in’, but to me, referring to a question as being ‘on a test’ is a typical collocation.

Maybe one of the British members of the forum will comment on the possible use of ‘(a question) in a test’.
.

12

Yes, this seems very interesting :stuck_out_tongue:

Let’s see what they’ll say :slight_smile:

13

The tense in a the context is correct because the plan is in progress- you are still having a party, and preparing for it. It hasn’t yet started.so you talked about something happened and you did in the past to invite your acqaintances to the party which will be given next week , for example.

14

Thanks a lot for your idea, Sultano. :stuck_out_tongue: It seems you think the same as us.
By the way, may I know if you are a British? (No vexation, please. We are just waiting for some British’s ideas :P)

Regards
Nessie