Maybe this is just me, but I have noticed increasingly over the past few years that the past tense seems to be slowly disappearing from common English usage (at least here in the U.S.). Descriptions of past events now seem regularly to be reported in the present tense. At first I noticed this in casual conversation and Internet forums, then later on sports TV like ESPN, and then lately even in more serious journalism like on NPR. And, frankly, it drives me crazy. If something happened in the past, why not use past tense? Is it really that hard to understand? I know language evolves over time and mostly I don’t try to fight it too much, but this particular pattern is nonsensical to me. Past tense words aren’t all that much longer or more difficult to say than their present-tense counterpart.
Anyone with any insight into this odd and disturbing phenomenon, do please leave a comment…
I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Perhaps some examples? At any rate, here is some fun reading about grammar and the gatekeeping thereof here — http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/correct/gatekeeping/.
Be sure to read some of the links off of this page as well.
I too have not only noticed the excessive use of the present tense but actually shudder at its every use.
“Queen Elizabeth greets Raleigh on his return from his voyage”…
No she doesn’t!…She did! It happened hundreds of years ago, not happening now! Even the BBC now uses the present tense where it is not appropriate. I despair. Anyway, best go before I explode with suppressed indignation.
Regards
Terry Rochford