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Hi, I am now learning English as a second language. Could any English native speakers please help me with my English questions?
1. Passengers are requested to show their passports.
(Without the, it’s better to take the simple present tense.)
2. The passengers were requested to show their passports.
(With the, it’s better to take the simple past tense.)
?What I analyzed is in the parentheses. Am I right? If I am wrong, please tell me the reason. Thanks!
Your are quite right. And there are good reasons for that, not just cold rules.
Without "the," it is a general statement, such as a public sign or instruction. And as such, it should be in the present tense.
With "the," now you are stating a fact involving actual people, such as in a news story. Obviously you also want to use the past tense for a past event.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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