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inotyce
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We can distinguish between present "read" and past "read" in their pronunciation. I wonder how a computer knows the difference.
Here's a sentence:inotyce said:We can distinguish between present "read" and past "read" in their pronunciation. I wonder how a computer knows the difference.
SteamKing said:I read 4 emails.
I read 4 emails.
Ben Niehoff said:Both of these are past tense. For present tense, English uses the present progressive:
Ben Niehoff said:Both of these are past tense. For present tense, English uses the present progressive:
"I am reading 4 emails."
I read you loud and clear, and I disagree. I never would say "I am reading you loud and clear."Ben Niehoff said:Both of these are past tense. For present tense, English uses the present progressive:
"I am reading 4 emails."
D H said:I never would say "I am reading you loud and clear."
phinds said:Well, how about this:
What if I read all your emails? ("reed" meaning I am going to do it later today)
What if I read all your emails? ("red" meaning I did it yesterday)
Now we have future/past, but the same confusion.
phinds said:Well, how about this:
What if I read all your emails? ("reed" meaning I am going to do it later today)
What if I read all your emails? ("red" meaning I did it yesterday)
Now we have future/past, but the same confusion.
SteamKing said:The first example is not future tense.
In English, the future tense would be expressed by: "What if I shall read all your emails?"
You can infer intent about when the reading takes place, but you can't take the sentence as is and parse the verb 'read' as future tense.
It would be very unusual for this sentence to exist in isolation, without a context. Generally we, or a computer, would know the tense meant from the conversational context.phinds said:Well, how about this:
What if I read all your emails? ("reed" meaning I am going to do it later today)
What if I read all your emails? ("red" meaning I did it yesterday)
Now we have future/past, but the same confusion.
zoobyshoe said:It would be very unusual for this sentence to exist in isolation, without a context. Generally we, or a computer, would know the tense meant from the conversational context.
Yeah, I certainly think it's possible to confuse a computer.phinds said:Damn, there you go getting all reasonable on me
I DO think that it's possible the context could be confusing enough that it would be tough for a computer (it COULD even be tough for a person).
D H said:I read you loud and clear, and I disagree. I never would say "I am reading you loud and clear."
The difference between "Read(present)" and "Read(past)" is in their tense. "Read(present)" refers to an action that is currently happening or habitually happens, whereas "Read(past)" refers to an action that has already been completed in the past.
In the present tense, "Read" is conjugated as "Read" for all subjects in the singular and plural form. For example, "I read", "you read", "he/she/it reads", "we read", "they read".
Sure, for example, "I read a book every night before going to bed." This sentence shows a habit of reading in the present tense.
In a negative sentence, "Read(past)" is formed by adding "did not" before the verb and using the base form of the verb "read". For example, "I did not read the book yesterday."
Yes, there is a slight difference in pronunciation between "Read(present)" and "Read(past)". "Read(present)" is pronounced as /riːd/ with a long "e" sound, whereas "Read(past)" is pronounced as /rɛd/ with a short "e" sound.