"The student asked the tutor to look at her rough draft and to make sure that the paper is clearly organized and is ready to go."
This is the observation paper and the session being observed happened in the past.
My question basically on the tenses...should it be "was organized and was ready to go"? or "is" is correct.
I'm confused with the whole direct, indirect speech thing.
2007-11-18 16:33:30 · 8 answers · asked by macca22 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
need more help please.. the forth answer disagreeing with other makes me even more confused. I do feel it is correct in some way.. basically it's like
I asked (A).. so wouldn't it be okay if the present tense is used inside A/ the indirect speech ?
2007-11-18 16:52:34 · update #1
The sentence is grammatically correct
Pay special attention to the Exceptions in the source provided. I hope this will alleviate your confusion.
2007-11-18 18:43:40 · answer #1 · answered by Form F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should read something like this:
"The student asked the tutor to look at her rough draft to make sure the paper was clearly organized and ready to go."
That way it is a little less "wordy" and gets the point across more clearly and in the same tense =)
(it is gramatically incorrect to switch tenses mid sentence so just choose one and stick with it)
2007-11-18 18:10:03 · answer #2 · answered by .brynne.alyssa. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The student asked the tutor to look at her rough draft and to make sure that the paper is clearly organized and is ready to go.
I think that is not corrected to use the tense 'is'. Must better to us 'was'
I think that is a whole direct speech.
I hope I will solve your problem.
2007-11-18 16:44:02 · answer #3 · answered by Chan A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it depends, really.
For example, these are correct:
I called my boyfriend to find out if he is going tomorrow.
Susan called to say she is in the city.
Your sentence makes it a bit harder. If you're relating a general past event, use was. If part of the event is current, use "is". It will really depend on context. Here are two examples, with different context:
"How did you get such a good grade on that paper?"
"I asked the tutor to look at my rough draft and make sure that it was clearly organized and was ready to go."
"Have you done anything to improve your chances of getting a good grade on your paper?"
"I asked the tutor to look at my rough draft and to make sure that it is clearly organized and is ready to go."
(I switched to "I" just to make it easier to demonstrate; regardless of subject, the general idea stays the same.)
2007-11-18 19:01:20 · answer #4 · answered by Julie J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It aren't right.
If the student ASKED the tutor, then it is in the past. Thus, the paper WAS clearly organized and WAS ready to go.
2007-11-18 16:41:37 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
both can be right. thats what u want to mean.
if u use IS(its present) u r saying the action will/can happen different from past. nothing wrong.
like
Lisa asked the tutor to make sure light is on. -> right
Lisa asked the tutor to make sure light was on. -> right
but first is a present action happening right now and second its past like someone telling u a story. got it?
2007-11-18 16:50:59 · answer #6 · answered by Dude 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds correct to me. The asking is in the past, but the paper is still being looked at for organization and to see if it's ready.
I asked mom if it is okay to go to the movies.
2007-11-18 16:45:43 · answer #7 · answered by Cloud 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its was...cause asked is past tense and was is also past tense. You can't have past tense and present tense in the same sentence. BUT then again I haven't taken a English class in a while.
2007-11-18 16:42:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋