Re: Past actions with present verbs ?!?

In article <4467a33f$0$14790$4fafbaef@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Lynda <lynda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello ...

firstly, as usual, thank you sooo much for answering
so kindly to my previous message :-)

ok, another quest for you all ... this time, it's very simple ...

I need to know if it's correct, in english, to use verbs in this
way :


- In 1997, Luke, CREATES a new company named ... blah blah blah
- In 1995 that company, OBTAINS new partnerships ... blah blah blah
- In 1980 his sister Sarah, LEAVES the company .... blah blah blah
- In 1940, Miky STARTS to learn english.... blah blah blah

I think you got what I mean ... is it correct to use "PRESENT" verb,
with past dates ?

can I speak about past actions ( happened in precise dates ... in
precise years ... ), using the PRESENT VERBS ?

should I use past forms insteads ? like :

- In 1997, Luke, CREATED a new company named ... blah blah blah
- In 1995 that company, OBTAINED new partnerships ... blah blah blah
- In 1980 his sister Sarah, LEFT the company .... blah blah blah
- In 1940, Miky STARTED to learn english .... blah blah blah
____________________

thank you very much, again, and again, and again ;-)

Yes, it's perfectly all right to use the "historic present" (or
"historical present") tense in this way. It's commonly used to give
more emphasis or sense of dynamism than a simple past tense provides.

--
David - toro-danyo atcost uku fullstop co fullstop uk
http://www.toro-danyo.uku.co.uk/
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Past actions with present verbs ?!?
    ... In 1997, Luke, CREATES a new company named ... ... blah blah blah ... In 1995 that company, OBTAINED new partnerships ... ... Do not put a comma between subject and verb unless ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Past actions with present verbs ?!?
    ... blah blah blah ... OBTAINED new partnerships ... ... Yes but it is far less common than the past tense and can only really be ...
    (uk.culture.language.english)
  • Re: Past actions with present verbs ?!?
    ... blah blah blah ... can I speak about past actions (happened in precise dates ... ... In 1997, Luke, CREATED a new company named ... ... In 1995 that company, OBTAINED new partnerships ... ...
    (alt.usage.english)