It's the present tense used for an event that has already happened, usually applied to things that are timeless, such as writing, "VW writes in her Nov. 1 post that...."
Ok. Gotcha. It's the tense I'm supposed to use for the annotated bibliography. Burrell, you will be glad to know that I am learning with this exercise. Go figure.
ETA: But, I'm still not happy about it.
"Indefatigable" is just a wonderful word.
Well, it's great that it has been applied to vw. But why's it got to be such a daunting prospect to pronounce?
historical present tense
It is using the present tense as a narrative tool to increase the vividness and immediacy when relating events that have already taken place. Bartleby.com -
[link] F'rinstance:
So, at work this morning, one of my co-workers comes up to me. She says, "Ya know what I like about vw? I like what an indefatigable scholar she is." And I say to to her, "I know exactly what you mean. Now, let's get some coffee." So we go to Starbucks, and order Pumpkin Pie Lattes on our break, and we run over to the mall to buy corsets.
I have dinner in the oven. Asparagus and sun-dried tomato fritatta type thing. (Vegan, so tofu instead of the eggs.) So far, smells good, though maybe a bit too mustardy.
That sounds delicious, Hil. And I love your
Ragtime
quote.
Also, Andi, that example rocks. And now I'm sitting here saying "indefatigable" over and over, in multiple different pronunciations.
But why's it got to be such a daunting prospect to pronounce?
But that's what makes it fun (says the woman who only learned to say in properly a few years ago, from the Horatio Hornblower movies IIRC).
::Has no clue how to pronounce indefatigable::
I just learned how to pronounce it when I butchered it on the phone, talking to Deena.
loves on WindSparrow
in-dee-FAT-ih-ga-bull
Assuming Lt. Hornblower didn't steer me wrong....
The dictionary on my computer agrees, though it uses the ə for the "de" syllable, rather than a long e sound. Otherwise, all the same.
Assuming Lt. Hornblower didn't steer me wrong....
I always use Richard Burton's pronunciation on "The War of the Worlds" as my guide.