prudent260
I was reading a book with my son. The illustrator draws a ladybug on each page to make the book more interesting.
My son: I see a ladybug. Do you see it?
Me: I don't. Could you tell me where it is?
My son: Here it is!
Me: Oh...You did see it. It is right next to the flower.
I'm not sure if the tense in the last sentences are right.
#1: "You did see it": because he saw it a few seconds ago, I used the past tense. (Sometimes he thought he found a ladybug which wasn't a ladybug.)
After thinking about it, I feel #2 'you do see it' seems to be ok as well.
Which one sounds more natural?
How would you say it?
Thank you. :)
2022年5月15日 14:13
回答 · 6
1
I see the ladybug. Do you? (‘the’ because there is a known ladybug on each page.)
No. Where is it?
Here! (Pointing at it)
Oh, you do see it there - right next to the flower. (It’s natural to match the tense of the first sentence. For example: I found the ladybug. / You did find it. He wouldn’t say ‘I saw’ unless he were no longer looking at it’)
2022年5月16日
1
Both are fine. To me, "did" is more natural.
Is this is a Richard Scarry book, "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," with a little bug named Goldbug hidden on each page? If so, my children loved that book when they were kids.
2022年5月15日
1
It seems to me that both work equally well. I might give a slight edge to "You do see it" because
he is pointing at it then. But as you are equally referring to what just happened (he saw it) I
think tat "you did see it" also works.
2022年5月15日
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