Present Simple or Past Simple
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Which is more common for native speakers to use in the following construction, present or past?
She is really a good friend and she never 'fails/failed' to send me a letter each month.
tenses
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
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show 2 more comments
1
Which is more common for native speakers to use in the following construction, present or past?
She is really a good friend and she never 'fails/failed' to send me a letter each month.
tenses
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
Is the friend continuing to send you letters each month (present simple), or did she send letters each month for some time in the past but no longer does (past simple)?
– geekahedron
May 20 at 15:08
@geekahendron: So both are correct in case the action is still going on or stopped at some point of time in the past.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 16:23
Neither is ambiguous. Saying "she never failed to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action has stopped, and I would expect to see that phrasing coupled with some definitive time frame ("While I was away at college, she never failed to send me a letter each month."). In contrast, "she never fails to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action is ongoing, and she is still sending you those letters.
– geekahedron
May 20 at 16:26
Alternatively, you can also say she has never failed to send me a letter. (A phrasing that I personally prefer if I'm emphasizing a lack of some fault—assuming I don't say she always sends me a letter, the positive expression sounding more natural to me as a simple statement.)
– Jason Bassford
May 20 at 17:03
@Jason: You're right, but with 'each day' it won't work.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 20:41
|
show 2 more comments
1
1
1
Which is more common for native speakers to use in the following construction, present or past?
She is really a good friend and she never 'fails/failed' to send me a letter each month.
tenses
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
Which is more common for native speakers to use in the following construction, present or past?
She is really a good friend and she never 'fails/failed' to send me a letter each month.
tenses
tenses
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
asked May 20 at 14:58
Mido MidoMido Mido
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
68012 silver badges22 bronze badges
Is the friend continuing to send you letters each month (present simple), or did she send letters each month for some time in the past but no longer does (past simple)?
– geekahedron
May 20 at 15:08
@geekahendron: So both are correct in case the action is still going on or stopped at some point of time in the past.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 16:23
Neither is ambiguous. Saying "she never failed to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action has stopped, and I would expect to see that phrasing coupled with some definitive time frame ("While I was away at college, she never failed to send me a letter each month."). In contrast, "she never fails to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action is ongoing, and she is still sending you those letters.
– geekahedron
May 20 at 16:26
Alternatively, you can also say she has never failed to send me a letter. (A phrasing that I personally prefer if I'm emphasizing a lack of some fault—assuming I don't say she always sends me a letter, the positive expression sounding more natural to me as a simple statement.)
– Jason Bassford
May 20 at 17:03
@Jason: You're right, but with 'each day' it won't work.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 20:41
|
show 2 more comments
Is the friend continuing to send you letters each month (present simple), or did she send letters each month for some time in the past but no longer does (past simple)?
– geekahedron
May 20 at 15:08
@geekahendron: So both are correct in case the action is still going on or stopped at some point of time in the past.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 16:23
Neither is ambiguous. Saying "she never failed to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action has stopped, and I would expect to see that phrasing coupled with some definitive time frame ("While I was away at college, she never failed to send me a letter each month."). In contrast, "she never fails to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action is ongoing, and she is still sending you those letters.
– geekahedron
May 20 at 16:26
Alternatively, you can also say she has never failed to send me a letter. (A phrasing that I personally prefer if I'm emphasizing a lack of some fault—assuming I don't say she always sends me a letter, the positive expression sounding more natural to me as a simple statement.)
– Jason Bassford
May 20 at 17:03
@Jason: You're right, but with 'each day' it won't work.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 20:41
Is the friend continuing to send you letters each month (present simple), or did she send letters each month for some time in the past but no longer does (past simple)?
– geekahedron
May 20 at 15:08
Is the friend continuing to send you letters each month (present simple), or did she send letters each month for some time in the past but no longer does (past simple)?
– geekahedron
May 20 at 15:08
@geekahendron: So both are correct in case the action is still going on or stopped at some point of time in the past.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 16:23
@geekahendron: So both are correct in case the action is still going on or stopped at some point of time in the past.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 16:23
Neither is ambiguous. Saying "she never failed to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action has stopped, and I would expect to see that phrasing coupled with some definitive time frame ("While I was away at college, she never failed to send me a letter each month."). In contrast, "she never fails to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action is ongoing, and she is still sending you those letters.
– geekahedron
May 20 at 16:26
Neither is ambiguous. Saying "she never failed to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action has stopped, and I would expect to see that phrasing coupled with some definitive time frame ("While I was away at college, she never failed to send me a letter each month."). In contrast, "she never fails to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action is ongoing, and she is still sending you those letters.
– geekahedron
May 20 at 16:26
Alternatively, you can also say she has never failed to send me a letter. (A phrasing that I personally prefer if I'm emphasizing a lack of some fault—assuming I don't say she always sends me a letter, the positive expression sounding more natural to me as a simple statement.)
– Jason Bassford
May 20 at 17:03
Alternatively, you can also say she has never failed to send me a letter. (A phrasing that I personally prefer if I'm emphasizing a lack of some fault—assuming I don't say she always sends me a letter, the positive expression sounding more natural to me as a simple statement.)
– Jason Bassford
May 20 at 17:03
@Jason: You're right, but with 'each day' it won't work.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 20:41
@Jason: You're right, but with 'each day' it won't work.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 20:41
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
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The most common combination would be
She is really a good friend and never fails to send me a letter each month.
Reason: it's nice when the two clauses linked by "and" are in the same tense, when the context permits that. It certain does permit it here.
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
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votes
1
The most common combination would be
She is really a good friend and never fails to send me a letter each month.
Reason: it's nice when the two clauses linked by "and" are in the same tense, when the context permits that. It certain does permit it here.
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
add a comment |
1
The most common combination would be
She is really a good friend and never fails to send me a letter each month.
Reason: it's nice when the two clauses linked by "and" are in the same tense, when the context permits that. It certain does permit it here.
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
add a comment |
1
1
1
The most common combination would be
She is really a good friend and never fails to send me a letter each month.
Reason: it's nice when the two clauses linked by "and" are in the same tense, when the context permits that. It certain does permit it here.
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
The most common combination would be
She is really a good friend and never fails to send me a letter each month.
Reason: it's nice when the two clauses linked by "and" are in the same tense, when the context permits that. It certain does permit it here.
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
answered May 21 at 3:51
aparente001aparente001
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15.6k4 gold badges36 silver badges74 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Is the friend continuing to send you letters each month (present simple), or did she send letters each month for some time in the past but no longer does (past simple)?
– geekahedron
May 20 at 15:08
@geekahendron: So both are correct in case the action is still going on or stopped at some point of time in the past.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 16:23
Neither is ambiguous. Saying "she never failed to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action has stopped, and I would expect to see that phrasing coupled with some definitive time frame ("While I was away at college, she never failed to send me a letter each month."). In contrast, "she never fails to send me a letter" indicates clearly that the action is ongoing, and she is still sending you those letters.
– geekahedron
May 20 at 16:26
Alternatively, you can also say she has never failed to send me a letter. (A phrasing that I personally prefer if I'm emphasizing a lack of some fault—assuming I don't say she always sends me a letter, the positive expression sounding more natural to me as a simple statement.)
– Jason Bassford
May 20 at 17:03
@Jason: You're right, but with 'each day' it won't work.
– Mido Mido
May 20 at 20:41