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X3w8w
Helper
last online: 07/18, 15:51
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Grammar question!

When you are talking about e.g. What's your longest ever car trip? , should it be , what IS , or what WAS ?

Thanks!

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Since writing this post Helper may have helped people, but has not within the last four (4) days.
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question, talking, car, longest, trip
Replies (7)
Roccoflip
Rockster160
last online: <time class="timeago" datetime="1730969927" title="Nov 7, 2024 8:58">Nov 7, 2024 8:58</time>
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(26 minutes after post)
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What WAS is correct. Further: “*What’s* your longest ever car trip?” itself is incorrect as well in the first place.

Electric
BA1
last online: 01/25, 20:20
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(1 hour after post)
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Your question is postulated in the present-tense but intended in the past-tense form.

What's your longest ever car trip?

Is there a longest "ever?" What do you measure it with? Consider where "ever" should be placed within the sentence. Is it needed to clarify the question?
Also, when formally writing, you do not contract words.

Example 1.
"What's" is a contraction of "What is." This question is posed if the person is currently undertaking a car trip.

Example 2.
"What was," is a question based on formerly established events.

The true form of your question should look like this: "What was your longest car trip, ever?"

X3w8w
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Helper
last online: 07/18, 15:51
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(5 hours after post)
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Oh really? Thanks so much!

But many people use "what's/What is" your longest car trip ever

I found several posts online that did that , some posts even put "what is/was your abcde ever ?", I suppose it's a mistake that many people make mistaking that they are refering to a present context but in fact they are really talking about a past event? ^^

Helpcomanimatedyetiwithdot256
𝕐ͤͭͥ̇𝕖𝕥𝕚。(Yeti.)
last online: 06/22, 14:37
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(6 hours after post)
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Same internet which cannot tell the difference between "your" and "you're"?

Help me with:

[quote]Test.[/quote]

Electric
BA1
last online: 01/25, 20:20
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(8 hours after post)
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Helper wrote:
I suppose it's a mistake many people make mistaking that they are refering to a present context but in fact they are really talking about a past event?

We are no longer a refined people.

If I ask you, "What IS the longest you have held your breath," I'm not just asking you about your past - a question in this form speculates you are (or about) to hold your breath (again).

If I ask you, "What WAS the longest you have held your breath," it infers no context to the present - it is a question, specifically, about your past regardless of the current moment.

These hair-splitting differences are no longer given regard today.

A court of law regards our common language as "Babble Speak." It is viewed as vulgar and is the primary reason it should be represented by legal council.

Fern
Fern
last online: 10/22, 23:26
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(11 hours after post)
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This example is past tense. "What is" is incorrect in this insistence.

X3w8w
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Helper
last online: 07/18, 15:51
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(3 days after post)
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Thank you for all of your help ! :)

A
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