Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Using Present Tense in a Story About the Past. Beck and Call. Tie-Dye Trees.

Oct 21, 2021

16:20

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Highlights

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Episode notes

Why Didn't the Speakers Use the Past Perfect Tens?

03:38

The Historical Present in English Narratives

01:35

The Beckon Call Is an Old Phrase, Originating in the Late 18th Century

03:03

Introduction

2min

The History of Present Tenses

3min

The Coda of Real Fake Bridges

2min

The Historical Present in English Narratives

2min

Why Didn't the Speakers Use the Past Perfect Tens?

4min

The Beckon Call Is an Old Phrase, Originating in the Late 18th Century

3min

The Trees Change Color This Time of Year

2min

Have you noticed people switching to the present tense when they're telling stories? It actually has a name: It's called the "historical present tense."

This is the article we mentioned if you want to read more about the historical present tense: Schiffrin, Deborah. 1981. Tense variation in narrative. Language 57(1). 45-62.

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HOST: Mignon Fogarty
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