Exercise 3: Explaining Tense Usage

Can you explain why each of the following sentences was written in that particular tense?

Choose your reason from the dropdown lists and click 'submit' at the end to see the answers.

   
  1. The charcoal was ground and put in a container.
     
     
  2. These findings indicate the danger of mixing potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur.
     
     
  3. General relativity is a theory of great significance.
     
     
  4. Advertisers work on the principle that most people like chocolate.
     
     
  5. Recent surveys have shown that most people prefer milk chocolate to white chocolate.
     
     
  6. Many people eat chocolate every day, as it is a good source of antioxidants.
     
     
  7. Many people have gained weight quickly because of eating increasing amounts of chocolate.
     
     
  8. It was thought that chocolate would replace alcohol as a beverage.
     
     
  9. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans.
     
     
  10. Smith maintains that white chocolate is not really chocolate.
     
     
  11. The experiment indicates that chocolate consumption may boost serotonin levels.