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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 de mai de 2025 11:28
Respostas · 9
2
Yes. It's correct. When relating the plot of a book, film, TV show, etc. present simple is generally used.
20 de mai de 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 de mai de 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 de mai de 2025 23:13
Este conteúdo viola nossas Diretrizes da Comunidade.
20 de mai de 2025 13:10
Este conteúdo viola nossas Diretrizes da Comunidade.
20 de mai de 2025 12:17
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Shana
Habilidades linguísticas
Chinês (Mandarim), Chinês (Cantonês), Inglês, Japonês
Idioma de aprendizado
Inglês, Japonês
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