例 1:
a) We college students had enough time to take a parttime job, no matter
how busy we were ...
b) We college students have enough time to take a parttime job, no matter
how busy we are ...
命题作文一般都是议论文,而写议论文所采用的时态一般都是现在时态。只有在举例或提到过去的事时才会用到过去时态。
例 2:
a) Riding bicycles had more advantages than taking a bus.
b) Riding bicycles has more advantages than taking a bus.
考生中用过去时写作与他们教材课文体裁(大多为叙述文、说明文)和平时写作练习(大多写个人经历的故事)有关,也与他们过度概括有关,认为所有文章都用过去时。
例 3:
a) There are so many countries using English that it had been regarded as
an international language.
b) There are so many countries using English that it has been regarded as
an international language.
注意:在论述同一事情,即发生在同一时间里的事时,前后半句或相邻的几句在时态上要保持一致。