English Grammar The Historical Present Tense The historical present tense (also called dramatic present or narrative present) is normally used in narratives, journalistic writing and newspaper headlines to refer to an event that took place in the past. In narratives, the historical present may be used to create an effect of immediacy. You have to avoid the use of the historical present unless the narrative is sufficiently vivid to make the use spontaneous. Example: It is a bright summer day in 1947. My father, a fat, funny man with beautiful eyes and a subversive wit, is trying to decide which of his eight children he will take with him to the county fair. My mother, of course, will not go. She is knocked out from getting most of us ready: In Search of Our Mothers by Alice Walker Shakespeares use of the historical present in Hamlet: He took me by the wrist and held me hard; Then goes he to the length of all his arm; And, with his other hand thus oer his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it. Long stayd he so; At last, a little shaking of mine arm And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He raised a sigh so piteous and profound As it did seem to shatter all his bulk And end his being: that done, he lets me go . . ..
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 04:05:03 +0000
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