(Continued)
6 - It was Susan that we met last Sunday, not Keith.
(this is acceptable in speaking but not in writing)
--> It was Susan that we met last Sunday. That was not Keith.
7 - He travels not only to Bath, but also Reading.
--> He has travelled not only to Bath, but also Reading
or (in the content of telling a story): He had travelled not only to Bath but also Reading
or (in speaking): He travelled not only to Bath but also Reading.
8 - Neither the manager nor his assistants agrees to attend the press conference.
--> Neither the manager nor his assistants agreed to attend the press conference
Simple Present tense should not be applied in this circumstance because:
- Simple Present Tense is used to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual.
- The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
- Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. Speakers should clearly indicate the time.