What Tense Do You Use in a Book Review

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Hi,

I've heard that present tense should exist used in writing a book report.

one. Could anyone let me know whether this is true?

two. If the answer to Q1 is "yes", is it wrong for me to use past tense?

Thanks.

Kathy

Comments

howdy

Yep and no. eg you have finsihed reading the book then no it should exist by if yous are still reading the volume it should exist present

How-do-you-do,

I've heard that nowadays tense should exist used in writing a book report.

1. Could anyone let me know whether this is true?

2. If the answer to Q1 is "yes", is it wrong for me to use past tense?

It's your pick. It often depends on what you want to talk about.

We exercise frequently use a kind of 'narrative present tense' when talking about a story. eg

In 'A Tale of 2 Cities', Dickens

sets

his story confronting the background of the Revolution which

is happening

in France

The character of Sydney Carton

sacrifices

his life for his dearest'.

But you lot tin can also say things similar 'This novel

was

very successful when information technology

was

first

published'

.

Clive

Kathy456I've heard that present tense should be used in writing a book report.

I haven't heard this, but I suppose you would say, "The title of the book is ...", not "The title of the book was ...", and so y'all may need the present tense for certain sentences. And you would probably say, "The volume was written in 1970", not "The book is written in 1970", so you lot may need the past tense for certain sentences.

I don't run across that yous would write the entire report in either the nowadays or the by. It depends on what you say.

You lot can, however, describe the plot of the book in the nowadays tense if y'all wish:

The protagonist accomplishes his goal past ...

Just the past seems as skillful.

CJ

Edit: Hmm. Clive's postal service wasn't there when I started this respond. Consequently, I've just said almost the same thing once more.

Hullo CalifJim/Clive,

Thanks very much for your prompt communication.

By the way, I've got a couple of follow-upwards questions:-

1. When I want to refer to something which "had happened" in the story, should I however follow the "narrative present tense" principle, due east.grand.

a. I feel compassion for Oliver considering his best friend betrays (or betrayed) him.

b. When Oliver is (or was) six, his mother is (or was) killed in an accident.

2. When I'd similar to talk about the, kind of, personalities of the characters, should I use nowadays tense or past tense, e.g.

a. Oliver is (or was) a lonely boy.

b. Oliver is (or was) very clever.

Thanks again.

Kathy

Hi,

Past the style, I've got a couple of follow-up questions:-

1. When I want to refer to something which "had happened" in the story, should I nevertheless follow the "narrative present tense" principle, east.g.

a. I feel pity for Oliver because his best friend betrays (or betrayed) him. I'd say 'has betrayed him', ie sometime in theppast before the 'historic present'.

b. When Oliver is (or was) six, his mother is (or was) killed in an accident. Hither, I'd stick with the present, ie . . . is . . . is . . .

2. When I'd similar to talk about the, kind of, personalities of the characters, should I employ

nowadays tense

Yes

or past tense, east.one thousand.

a. Oliver is (or was) a lone boy.

b. Oliver is (or was) very clever.

Clive

Hi Clive,

Thanks a lot for your prompt reply. It's really very very helpful to me.

Kathy

The master way guide for discussing literature (including book reports) is the MLA Transmission.

According to the MLA, present tense is used.

The thought behind this is that fifty-fifty though a story has present, future, and by in information technology, that every time someone picks up that volume and begins reading afresh, those 'tenses' first over.

So instead of "John ate a pizza then Mike drank a beer while Julie was speaking" you would say "John eats a pizza then Mike drinks a beer while Julie is speaking".

You do this because you are discussing a series of events inside a story. Yous are doing this in the present and the book exists in the present.

------------------

If you don't follow this logic, then if yous discussed a book occurring in the by in past tense, would you also take to hash out a book prepare in the time to come (such as a futuristic sci fi novel) using the future tense??

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Source: https://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatTenseUsedBookReport/xbjxj/post.htm

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