When they see a criminal seize a woman's handbag
When a criminal seizes a woman's handbag
2007-02-20 16:23:38 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The first sounds like an omniscient narrative of a third-person story(present or future tense), while the second sounds like a third-person narrative from within the story(also either present or future tense).
2007-02-20 16:29:05 · answer #1 · answered by Crys H. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"When they see....." is a time clause. The tense is present simple (3rd person plural). The verb seize is the subjunctive, one of the few occasions it is used in English.
"When a criminal seizes...." is also in the present simple (3rd person singular)
2007-02-21 00:46:11 · answer #2 · answered by Stealthbong 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These sentences are in the present tense in English.In other languages they would probably be future but it is the magic word "when" that makes the difference.
2007-02-21 01:50:07 · answer #3 · answered by Cary C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋