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Shana
Hi! Is it right to use the simple present tense for the verb 'experience' here?
The story follows a talented college girl who, despite wining multiple scholarships and having strong writing skills, eventually __experiences__ a mental breakdown.
20 mei 2025 11:28
Antwoorden · 9
2
Yes. It's correct. When relating the plot of a book, film, TV show, etc. present simple is generally used.
20 mei 2025 12:45
Your sentence is correct. Notice that it's just consistent: "The story 'follows'... eventually 'experiences'..."
As has already been mentioned by someone else, this is what's called a "literary present" which is when the present tense is used in literary contexts like: summarize plots or events in stories, books, films, biographies, etc.
22 mei 2025 00:19
Yes. Stripped of all its adjectives and subordinate clauses the sentence is
"The story follows a girl who eventually experiences a mental breakdown."
and that sounds perfect. Present tense can be used for present, future, and timeless events:
"I see a dog" (present)
"Tomorrow I see a dog" (future, because of "tomorrow")
"Sometimes I see a dog" (timeless)
For your sentence, you have many other choices:
"The story follows a girl who eventually will experience a mental breakdown."
"The story follows a girl who eventually experienced a mental breakdown."
"The story follows a girl who could eventually experience a mental breakdown."
All are correct, but Simple Present would be the default unless you had some reason for saying it a different way.
20 mei 2025 23:13
Deze inhoud schendt onze communityrichtlijnen.
20 mei 2025 13:10
Deze inhoud schendt onze communityrichtlijnen.
20 mei 2025 12:17
Heb je je antwoorden nog steeds niet gevonden?
Schrijf je vragen op en laat de moedertaalsprekers je helpen!
Shana
Taalvaardigheden
Chinees (Mandarijn), Chinees (Kantonees), Engels, Japans
Taal die wordt geleerd
Engels, Japans
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