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Languages => Language-specific analysis => English => Topic started by: binumal on December 30, 2017, 11:29:22 PM

Title: please look at this sentence
Post by: binumal on December 30, 2017, 11:29:22 PM

Kindly check the grammaticality of the following sentence
For years, He wakes up at  5 a.m - Intended meaning- He is in the habit of waking up at 5 a.m, for years
Thanks in advance

Title: Re: please look at this sentence
Post by: Daniel on December 30, 2017, 11:31:28 PM

Sounds fine to me in the habitual sense as in a present tense (even if past meaning) narrative.

Title: Re: please look at this sentence
Post by: Audiendus on December 31, 2017, 07:06:27 AM

Normally, we would say: "For years, he has woken up at 5 a.m." or "For years, he has been waking up at 5 a.m.", and "He has been in the habit of waking up at 5 a.m. for years".

But in a present-tense narrative we could conceivably say something like:
"For years, he wakes up at 5 a.m. Then suddenly his life changes and..."
But that use would be unusual.

Title: Re: please look at this sentence
Post by: binumal on January 07, 2018, 01:05:55 PM

If it is in the past,for example - a)During the World War Two, He woke up at 5.am every day or  b)During the World War Two, He used to  wake up at 5.am every day - which would be preferable?

Title: Re: please look at this sentence
Post by: Daniel on January 07, 2018, 06:01:41 PM

"Used to" highlights a sense of contrast. Both are fine, and the simple past would be the default.

Note: "the Second World War" vs. (no "the") "World War II".