| 单词 | tense |
| 例句 | Something tense hid behind his calm face, like a spring pressed into a tight coil. A Wish in the Dark 2020-03-24T00:00:00Z It was on these tense walks home from school that I decided I had to get out of Brooklyn. When I Was Puerto Rican 1993-09-20T00:00:00Z When he spoke again, his voice was low, tense, subdued. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z When the side of the scale is in the past tense, the other side gets a would. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z He takes an exit off the highway, and I tense up because he's going a little too fast when he makes a sharp turn onto another road. Pride 2018-09-18T00:00:00Z How was it that his voice was so cool when the hand holding the chalk was so tense, the veins sticking out, as if threatening to burst through the flesh? The Chocolate War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z She stood tense and alert, staring down at the bank. The Secret Life of Bees 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z He didn’t come, and as time passed I grew more and more tense. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z The man’s face tenses up, and I don’t know what to do. Piecing Me Together 2017-02-14T00:00:00Z Like, she got real tense right before I got out. The Boy in the Black Suit 2015-01-06T00:00:00Z The phoebe clicks out his alarm cry and I tense. On the Far Side of the Mountain 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z The situation again became as tense as it had been during the months that preceded the first war. One Hundred Years of Solitude 1967-05-30T00:00:00Z Mama sits in her checkered fleece robe, tense on the edge of her bed. Amina's Voice 2017-03-14T00:00:00Z All Bigger Thomases, white and black, felt tense, afraid, nervous, hysterical, and restless. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z The moment I showed my teeth, all the bonobos tensed, backing up and pounding the earth. Endangered 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z He speaks in the tensest voice I’ve ever heard him use. Before We Were Free 2002-08-13T00:00:00Z Edward stayed tensed like a lion in front of me. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z The rules are the same in the past tense. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z On the weekend of Pearl Harbor, after a tense phone call, an agreement was reached: Elizebeth would report to the Navy. The Woman All Spies Fear 2021-10-19T00:00:00Z There’s a tense set to his shoulders Alex hasn’t seen in months, not directed at him at least. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z The audience held themselves quiet, tense, and tight, as if the song had burned them worse than flame. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z Even when I heard them putt-putting into the area I would tense up. Fallen Angels 1988-01-01T00:00:00Z My body tenses when my phone starts to buzz, and I see that it’s Zohra trying to FaceTime me early in the morning before Sunday school. Amina's Song 2021-03-09T00:00:00Z I tense up at the sight of it. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z I freeze, every muscle in my body tensing. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z Our faces are neither paler nor more flushed than usual; they are not more tense nor more flabby—and yet they are changed. All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel 1929-01-01T00:00:00Z He crouched low to the ground, tensed and ready, and uttered a high, ear-splitting scream; and, as the startled cub turned, the cat sprang. The Incredible Journey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z Since her encounter with Khione, Piper seemed more wired, tensed up inside like a primed catapult, as if she were determined never to be caught off guard again. The House of Hades 2013-10-08T00:00:00Z And I don’t want her to feel frightened, to feel the fear that is now tightening my muscles, tensing my spine, pulling me so taut that I’m certain I would break if touched. The Handmaid's Tale 1985-01-01T00:00:00Z I expected it to be awkward, like our visit at Christmas, or tense, like over spring break when I had to watch every word. The Lions of Little Rock 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z Last week’s Thanksgiving was artificially sweetened, enriched with tense preservatives, and wrapped in plastic. Wintergirls 2009-03-19T00:00:00Z I never particularly noticed my dad’s moods, but he was looking kind of pale and tense. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z Sergeant Brown tensed as the voice came again. The Great Santini 1976-01-01T00:00:00Z I tensed, a shudder going through me, and shook my head. Hollow City 2014-01-14T00:00:00Z Finally my turn came and I felt foolish, tense; I wanted to yell for him to stop; I wanted to tell him that all this was so much nonsense. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z He was still standing by the open door of the van, looking tense, as if he couldn’t wait for Dustfinger to get out of the way. Inkheart 2003-09-23T00:00:00Z I straighten, so tense my teeth are almost chattering. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z Celaena offered her a slight smile, and the princess stepped closer, her guards tensing slightly. Throne of Glass 2012-08-07T00:00:00Z Its mouth was open in a tense yawn. Orphan Island 2017-05-30T00:00:00Z Because of this, things on the border had become very tense. Shooting Kabul 2010-06-22T00:00:00Z I watch as Mama sits upright in her chair, and Baba tenses. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z The more I realized this, the less tense I became. Crispin: The Cross of Lead 2002-06-01T00:00:00Z Her shoulders are so tense they’re way up by her ears. King and the Dragonflies 2020-02-04T00:00:00Z Kaede’s entire body was tense as she hurried down the stairs away from the Council chambers. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z As he listened, Richard’s jaw worked, the muscles tensing and relaxing. The 57 Bus 2017-10-17T00:00:00Z Some people are tense and silent, and some are giddy and talk a lot. Landscape with Invisible Hand 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z What I am paid to do is to observe him in a rigorous present tense, as a subject dynamically inhabiting a scene, as a phenomenon of study. Native Speaker 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z I'm tense from the ride, and I’d like an opportunity to knock some sense into one of these boys. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z The bodies tense, the eyes are brighter, as if aiming. The Handmaid's Tale 1985-01-01T00:00:00Z At a signal from Wick, the haint tensed and planted one clawed foot onto the ground to steady itself for a lunge. Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z My eyes jerk to hers, and for one tense moment, I think she knows everything. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z Alec’s every movement was strained, his muscles tense, veins like ropes under his skin. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin) 2012-08-14T00:00:00Z I was reaching for the ball, busting every play, and trying not to tense up. Slam! 1996-11-01T00:00:00Z She grasped the quill in tense, careful fingers, and her lips silently formed each letter as she traced the lines. The Witch of Blackbird Pond 1958-12-01T00:00:00Z That arm made me tense but not entirely unhappy. The Glass Castle 2005-03-01T00:00:00Z When I came as near to the light as I dared, I raised my head and tensed my legs, ready to flee if necessary. Crispin: The Cross of Lead 2002-06-01T00:00:00Z The arguments over Bailey’s future began early and occur frequently, though at this point they often devolve into repetitive phrases and tense silences. The Night Circus 2011-09-13T00:00:00Z I point and flex my foot, stretching and tensing through my entire leg as much as I can. The Sea in Winter 2021-01-05T00:00:00Z Squad 451 and the television crew collect dinner from the canteen and gather in a tense circle to eat. Mockingjay 2010-08-24T00:00:00Z His fat finger barely moved on the change mat but it flicked slightly like a tense cat’s tail. Cannery Row 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z Everything inside him tensed as he spotted Tad coming toward him. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z The main rope tensed, while the security rope, which I had deliberately measured out longer, hung limply. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z “I’m not really into homecoming,” she said, tensing under his touch. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z Their Invisibility Cloak didn’t stop them making any noise, and there was a particularly tense moment when Ron stubbed his toe only yards from the spot where Snape stood standing guard. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets 1998-07-02T00:00:00Z Her presence in Rome was having the desired effect on Caesar even if it was making his fellow senators tense. Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen 2009-02-03T00:00:00Z He tensed his fingers excitedly around the cake plate. A Tangle of Knots 2013-02-05T00:00:00Z He tensed, going over in his mind their plan of action. Shooting Kabul 2010-06-22T00:00:00Z He waited, tense to jump, expecting movement below. Watership Down: A Novel 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z I was extremely tense and began to perspire. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z A quiet, tense woman with piercing eyes, she had been a frequent guest in our house. Night 1955-01-01T00:00:00Z “Leave me alone,” Bigger said, his voice tense and hysterical. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z It’s been a long time since I’ve given her a hug on my own, and, after a moment of tensed surprise, she turns to me and hugs me back. Saints and Misfits 2017-06-13T00:00:00Z He was tense and upset, because he knew that the old man was right. The Alchemist 1988-01-01T00:00:00Z That’s why Ophie was tensed in the parlor, waiting to see if the cousins would descend upon her like one of the seven plagues the pastor back in Darling always talked about. Ophie's Ghosts 2021-05-18T00:00:00Z She was drawn up and tense, which in her language said “people,” so I wasn’t surprised to hear a voice call from across the stream, “Hi, Daniel Boone. What are you doing?” My Side of the Mountain 1959-01-01T00:00:00Z Each time she knocked on the door, and each time she woke up just before it opened, every muscle tense. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z It’s a short, tense ride to the precinct. X: A Novel 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z It was a state of tense, breathless boredom. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z She had her hand on my arm and faster than I thought I heard myself answer, "Is that you, baby?" and waited with tense breath. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z Will jumped up and seized her shoulders, and felt her tense and trembling. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z We gripped each other but didn’t dare make a sound, and for an unbearably tense moment we heard only the bleating of sheep and the clop of staggering hooves. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z I don’t move away or tense up, because even though I don’t know him like that, Warren feels like all the other guys from my high school or around the way. Pride 2018-09-18T00:00:00Z It was a tense time for everybody, Sanders said, but for Rat Kiley it ended up in Japan. The Things They Carried 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z It was some time before Milkman discovered what they were so tense about. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z The days that followed were tense, but quiet. Forged by Fire 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z We ate on in rather tense silence, I wondering why he was still so extremely sensitive about the suit, when he had found a place where he could stay. Z for Zachariah 1976-07-29T00:00:00Z So, except at the gallows, hung is the correct past tense of hang-. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z The snake, unmoving, coiled tensed and ready only inches from Clay’s leg. Copper Sun 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z I look out the window again, taking slow, deep breaths into a body too tense to move. Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z Both past tenses have been around for hundreds of years, but since the sixteenth century it’s been customary to reserve hanged for referring to executions, and to use hung for other meanings. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z They were talking in the past tense because Tristram had finally been murdered, while playing the harp to La Beale Isoud, by the exasperated King Mark. The Once and Future King 1958-01-01T00:00:00Z Danny was tense and edgy, his face still masked by frustration, his mind obviously not on what we were discussing. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z Gatsby got himself into a shadow and while Daisy and I talked looked conscientiously from one to the other of us with tense unhappy eyes. The Great Gatsby 1925-04-10T00:00:00Z I noticed that the toes on the one playing the flute were tensed. The Stranger 1989-03-13T00:00:00Z His body tensed; the veins rose to bursting on his streaming forehead. The Black Cauldron 1965-06-01T00:00:00Z Every time they had passed in the hall, she had tensed visibly, wrinkling her nose as though he’d carried a terrible stench with him. The City Beautiful 2021-10-05T00:00:00Z I close my mouth, sink back into my chair, sweaty and tense. Muffled 2020-10-27T00:00:00Z Besides, when I watched his shoulders tense, I figured Papa might need me close if there was to be trouble. Life Is So Good 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z He tilted up his head and tensed his legs. Dragonwings 1975-01-01T00:00:00Z He goes back over the last twenty-four hours in his head: the sleeplessness, the pills, the tense little grimace Henry does in public that Alex has always read as aloofness. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z I was tense, but there was no need. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z Queen tensed with anger, but didn't want to show Angel. Forged by Fire 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z She knew that it was something in Gabriel’s voice that had caused Florence, suddenly, to be so wary and so tense. Go Tell It on the Mountain 1953-05-18T00:00:00Z He seemed very tense, and I wondered why he was still worried. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z "He's our botanist and engineer. And don't talk about him in the past tense." The Martian 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z Before arriving in New Orleans, Gonzales and his fellow officers had heard a lot about the conditions in the city, and they were tense. Zeitoun 2009-07-15T00:00:00Z The atmosphere inside number four, Privet Drive was extremely tense. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire 2000-07-08T00:00:00Z “I don’t know!” he said, his voice tense with anxiety. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z He’s talking through gritted teeth; I can see the muscle tensing in his jaw. The Girl on the Train 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z I shook my head, hoping to shake away the tense jitters. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z The boy could feel his whole body tense. Counting by 7s 2013-08-29T00:00:00Z The next forty-eight hours, Hitler later confessed, were the tensest of his life. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics 2014-05-27T00:00:00Z A writer also has to harmonize the tenses according to a scheme called sequence of tenses, tense agreement, or backshift. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z It should have made me feel nauseated and tense like it normally does, but my fear for Ayanna outweighed my fear of heights. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky 2019-10-15T00:00:00Z That’s all it takes for my whole body to tense with anger. Dumplin' 2015-09-15T00:00:00Z Men with binoculars had them trained toward the whitecaps, and everyone was tense. The Cay 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z I think they were afraid that some of us would try to kill ourselves or something because they looked very tense and one of them kept touching his beard. The Perks of Being a Wallflower 1999-02-01T00:00:00Z Mom said to hide beneath a mattress, and so we covered ourselves with the bed, staying close together, tense and still, down low to the ground. How Dare the Sun Rise 2017-05-16T00:00:00Z He grabbed a pouch around his neck, and Amari tensed, ready to cry out again. Copper Sun 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z She grew tense as fine steel when he traced the mutilated contours with his finger tip from a pit in her shoulder blade almost to the base of her spine. Catch-22 1961-11-10T00:00:00Z We all tensed, watching the thing from the window. Root Magic 2021-01-05T00:00:00Z Sam watched, his fists clenched, his body tense. Frightful's Mountain 2001-05-21T00:00:00Z I couldn’t stop thinking about the little moment when I’d tensed up as he touched me. The Fault in Our Stars 2012-01-10T00:00:00Z Her body was tense: her eyes were closed and her claws dug into the floor. Watership Down: A Novel 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z We speak of them in the present tense, as if we still know them. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z The muscles in his throat tensed and knotted. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z Even now, there is something tense about his posture, as if things tonight hadn’t gone as well for him as they had for the rest of our team. Warcross 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z His shoulders are tense, and I can tell he's troubled. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z This was entirely martial, and the mood was tense. Zeitoun 2009-07-15T00:00:00Z Cowslip showed no more concern at Fiver’s tense manner than he had at anything that had gone before. Watership Down: A Novel 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z This confusion hurt my head and made my stomach tense. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z Tad stood tense—heart pounding and ready to fight. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z Biff wet his handkerchief beneath the water tap and patted his drawn, tense face. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z From the rear of the trailer came a muffled thump-thump of footsteps, and I tensed up. Flush 2005-09-13T00:00:00Z From the rear of the trailer came a muffled thump-thump of footsteps, and I tensed up. Flush 2005-09-13T00:00:00Z We wince, our eyes become tense, our hands are ready to vault over the side of the lorry into the ditch by the road. All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel 1929-01-01T00:00:00Z My body tenses with hers; together we brace a hundred times for impact. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z The other two watched him carefully; as soon as he was on the ground, they relaxed their tense postures and joined him. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling 2011-01-25T00:00:00Z And every time a new act went up, I felt them tense. A Very Large Expanse of Sea 2018-10-16T00:00:00Z Zane tensed the toes of his sneakers tight against the rope. A Tangle of Knots 2013-02-05T00:00:00Z The Chevalier left his dragonfly in the care of Salmakia, and his little tense figure, green-clad and dark-haired, leapt to a rock where they could all see him. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z He changed his gait so that he walked on the balls of his feet, muscles tensed and dagger at the ready. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z “No, you go next,” I responded, feeling tense. Breaking Through 2001-08-27T00:00:00Z Alfred tensed, wondering how he could stop the man if he went crazy and attacked Aunt Pearl or the girls. The Contender 1967-01-01T00:00:00Z This time when I came to the part where Miss Lilian turned against Georgie and me, he tensed, but he didn’t make me stop. The Old Willis Place 2004-09-20T00:00:00Z We were met by guards with automatic weapons; the atmosphere was tense but quiet, unlike the boisterous reception I had received on my arrival on the island two years before. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z We lift each other’s clothing, run our hands over each other’s backbones, and I feel the backbone tensed and strung to breaking. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z Will tensed his muscles the way the knights in his storybooks would if they’d just caught an evil wizard doing something suspicious. A Tangle of Knots 2013-02-05T00:00:00Z “No wonder she gets so tense when I bring up shadowshaping.” Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z My muscles are tensing, the way they do when I see dogs in the distance and I’m not quite sure if they’re nice or mean. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z He looks up from the divan where he is sitting, appearing both tense and exhausted. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z They looked at the puddle of blood and they looked at me, jaws slack, bodies tense. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet 2007-04-30T00:00:00Z And when she was finished telling and was tense in the circle of his arms, she waited to see what he would say. Strange the Dreamer 2017-03-28T00:00:00Z “Where’s my passbook?” she asked in a frantic voice, her tense body bent low over the table. Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z Our bodies tense, we clasp each other’s hands, holding our breath, but then a small feline silhouette saunters lazily out of the bushes, looking for food. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z Daintily she stabbed the mouse through the back and drew it wriggling to her and her tail flicked with tense delight. Cannery Row 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z Ollie walks steadily ahead, but his shoulders tense at my statement. Girl in the Blue Coat 2016-04-05T00:00:00Z Her watchfulness stretched her, made her taut and tense. The God of Small Things 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z There was something tense about the Governor's orbs, something that made Pong nervous. A Wish in the Dark 2020-03-24T00:00:00Z But inches away, he felt tense and vigilant. Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam 2018-04-10T00:00:00Z I tense and shiver as his hand presses against the small of my back. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z We were standing on a ledge overlooking a marshy pond when Annabeth tensed. The Battle of the Labyrinth 2008-05-06T00:00:00Z After making sure his helmet was straight, he asked, “It’s been tense around here since yesterday’s visitor. Is one of these the one he called for?” When the Sea Turned to Silver 2016-10-04T00:00:00Z Then I saw the lion crouching, its leg muscles tensing. The Titan's Curse 2007-05-11T00:00:00Z Again he ate hunched over his food, tense and quiet, paying no attention to anything except what was going on inside his own head. Tiger Boy 2015-10-01T00:00:00Z At that moment, Miss Goodacre burst into the room looking flushed and tense. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate 2009-05-12T00:00:00Z Monday night, July 29 Monte Cristi The drive today was horribly tense. In the Time of the Butterflies 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z The woman tenses but lets her take it. The Sun Is Also a Star 2016-11-01T00:00:00Z My mother leaned toward me and in a tense whisper asked if I needed a drink of water, which was Mom-speak for keep it together, people are staring. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z I sat stiff and tense in the backseat as if I was being graded on posture. Liar, Liar 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z I don’t tell him it was the way the smell made the back of my neck tense up. A Step from Heaven 2001-04-30T00:00:00Z He tensed as a second twig snapped, this time behind him, and then he heard a distinct sound, a hissing. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z Her two sons, barefoot, stood tense and motionless, their eyes searching anxiously under the bed and chairs. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z Here are a few of them: The subject of a tensed verb must be in nominative case, such as I, he, she, and they. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z When he started toward us, it was almost like it was in slow motion and everything went into a tight focus....When he made his move, my whole body just tensed up. Blink 2005-01-11T00:00:00Z Their fears began to circle the abandoned car, then to pile into it, tense new passengers with theories in their laps. Typical American 1991-01-01T00:00:00Z I only remember my thighs tensing and my pelvis arching forward with that sudden thunderous urge that is so much more powerful than any other human craving—the need to push. The Poisonwood Bible 1998-01-01T00:00:00Z Ned screamed, and Joey tensed and closed his eyes like it physically hurt him. Winger 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z He was so tense in body and mind that when the door swung in he bounded up and stood in the middle of the room. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z The listlessness of the past month was gone and he was tense and uneasy. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z The harp tensed and one string showed signs of giving way. The Book of Three 1964-03-12T00:00:00Z He studied her tensed body before he raised his dark, well-groomed brows. Throne of Glass 2012-08-07T00:00:00Z But the longer he sat there, the more tense he grew. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z The sound of dripping water made Jonathan tense. The Fighting Ground 1984-04-01T00:00:00Z A tense wait began, which would last for several days. The House of the Spirits: A Novel 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z I felt strained and tense, but if he had any such feeling, he did not show it at all. Z for Zachariah 1976-07-29T00:00:00Z The first meeting was tense, but I broke the ice by laying out a few lines of crystal and commenting on my host's refreshing lack of furniture. Me Talk Pretty One Day 2000-05-02T00:00:00Z Inej tensed for whatever was to come next, fingers twisting in her silks. Six of Crows 2015-09-29T00:00:00Z My body tenses at the edge in his voice, so I am coiled as tight as a spring, and I forget to breathe. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z He staggered to his feet, tensed for more terrors, and looked up at a huge peaked cap. Lord of the Flies 1954-09-17T00:00:00Z They chatted politely, but the mood was tense. Bomb 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z As we sat waiting, Curt Lemon began to tense up. The Things They Carried 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z She grabbed Kaz’s arm through his cloak and felt his muscles tense. Six of Crows 2015-09-29T00:00:00Z Then Lupin spoke, in a very tense voice. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban 1999-07-08T00:00:00Z After a few tense moments, she dropped to all fours and, with a final defiant snort, lumbered off to collect her cubs. Hoot 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z We were all very quiet, our faces tensed with fear, as we hadn’t yet safely left the city area. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z He pushed past all the people, and he flung open the doors at the back of the room, light spilling into the tense space. Anger Is a Gift 2018-05-22T00:00:00Z The longer he waits to tell us something, anything, the more tense my muscles become, until my shoulders feel like they are made of stone instead of flesh. Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z Jordan found another job, sweeping up in a factory, but he hated it, and was tense, restless, and irritable. Forged by Fire 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z And in Spanish we were supposed to have conversations about the airport, using the future tense. Maybe He Just Likes You 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z The wind and the sky had finally quieted, and it was not the tense, anticipating stillness of winter, the pause of the tortoise taking a breath before a thunderous howl. When the Sea Turned to Silver 2016-10-04T00:00:00Z Soon he had become as tense and nervous as he had ever been in his life. Watership Down: A Novel 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z If you’re uncomfortably on the spot about something in the past, move to the future tense. Words Like Loaded Pistols 2011-10-20T00:00:00Z He talked very rapidly, and I could see he was tense. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z The other standing men tense, their square red heads scanning the passengers like odd radars. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z As the Olympic preliminary heats approached and the gravity of what was coming settled on them, Ulbrickson’s boys began to get tense and fidgety again. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics 2014-05-27T00:00:00Z And just at that tense moment when I was afraid Dad was going to pull the trigger and shoot the deer, a thought shot even more quickly into my mind—a very inspiring thought. Dead End in Norvelt 2011-09-13T00:00:00Z Evan tensed up his fingers as if he were strangling an invisible ghost. The Lemonade War 2007-04-23T00:00:00Z Reading that letter, it was like I’d been tensing my whole body for all of my twelve years, and now I could finally relax. From the Desk of Zoe Washington 2020-01-14T00:00:00Z That was the only tense moment in the meeting, and Mr. Botha said that he was afraid that he could not do that. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z She let out a shaky laugh, but her body was still tense next to mine. The Darkest Minds 2012-12-18T00:00:00Z Those people always made her angry and tense. X: A Novel 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z We black boys worked long hard hours for what few pennies we earned and we were edgy and tense. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z His words send a cold shock through me, and I tense. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z August 21 Second Rule Add an s to verbs acted by one person in the present tense, even if there’s already an s sound nearby. Inside Out and Back Again 2011-03-22T00:00:00Z For Elizebeth, it was a tense time, and not only because of the workload. The Woman All Spies Fear 2021-10-19T00:00:00Z I tense and close my fists around his wrists, intending to hang on if he tries to throw me again. Water for Elephants 2006-05-26T00:00:00Z What began as a tense standoff between the two superpowers now threatened to spiral into an actual nuclear conflict. Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z After a few seconds of tense, gut-feel physics, he felt the force on the tether abate. The Martian 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z A common error in student writing is to shift the tense from a main clause to a subordinate one even when they refer to the same time period. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z He waited, tense, water bleeding out from his forehead and underarms. The Great Santini 1976-01-01T00:00:00Z The men were whispering in tense tones of horror. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z My whole body tenses and I curse as loud and as hard as I can. Thirteen Reasons Why 2007-10-18T00:00:00Z By this time, a dozen or more children were clustered around her table, their daemons as desperate to know as they were, all wide-eyed and tense. The Golden Compass 1995-07-01T00:00:00Z In the present tense, might is used rather than may to describe an iffier situation. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z The first night that he allowed her to walk with him, her entire body was tense with excitement; she was afraid to speak in case he disappeared again. Ash 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z It was too easy to get wrapped up in our own private, tense little bubble. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z The smooth wave rose, tightening her throat, making it impossible to speak, and then, as she held on, tensing her lips, it fell away and she was safe. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z I tensed my shoulders and started rearranging blocks on one of the castle’s towers. The Stars Beneath Our Feet 2017-09-19T00:00:00Z Many eyes in the room were fastened upon Bigger now, cold grey and blue eyes, eyes whose tense hate was worse than a shout or a curse. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z Her feet dragged over the wooden floor and her face held an expression of tense effort. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z Their eyes waited upon him, tense, anxious, pathetically hopeful. James and the Giant Peach 1961-11-01T00:00:00Z Every inch of me is tense until the doors of the boxing gym close behind us. On the Come Up 2019-02-05T00:00:00Z His entire body seemed tensed, and she didn’t fail to notice the way he clenched his jaw when Perrington spoke. Throne of Glass 2012-08-07T00:00:00Z Ellen, too tense to stay upstairs, is stalking through it all like a hungry lioness. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z I sat on one of the bags, tense for no good reason, not knowing what to expect. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z And that was why all the grandparents and parents in the room were actually just as tense and excited as Charlie was, although they were pretending to be very calm. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 1964-09-12T00:00:00Z When I went to The Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight, it was very tense. The Perks of Being a Wallflower 1999-02-01T00:00:00Z We rode in tense silence, unusual for us. The Rock and the River 2009-01-06T00:00:00Z My nerves remained tense even after I had had a hot shower and crawled into bed. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z I tense up—he hasn’t touched me since before our fight—and he releases me. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z I can tell it hurts, but Freak doesn't say anything, he just tenses up. Freak The Mighty 1993-10-01T00:00:00Z I tried, along with a couple friends from Soweto, to “integrate” with a group of whites who looked as though they were from Pretoria, but the atmosphere became so tense that we abandoned the effort. Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z With these conditionals, anything goes: you can use pretty much any tense in the if and then clauses, depending only on when the relevant events take place or are discovered. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z Did things get tense and awkward with her friends, if she even told them? Maybe He Just Likes You 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z She had been tense through it all, unable to relax. Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z Harry stood, tense, waiting for Riddle to raise his wand. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets 1998-07-02T00:00:00Z He waved to the guards, who had tensed up at the noise. The Serpent King 2016-03-08T00:00:00Z “You know, excited. More than usual. And tense.” The City Beautiful 2021-10-05T00:00:00Z He sat for a long while, erect and tense, without continuing the letter. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z I had several tense conversations with my mom, asking why it was that Dad wouldn’t go to the doctor. Becoming 2018-11-13T00:00:00Z Henry’s hand is tense on the program in his lap. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z When the if side of the scale is in the present tense, the other side calls for will. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z With his face pressed between the balusters, he watched a line of dark turbans file into the house, met by Habib, his back straight and tense. Shooting Kabul 2010-06-22T00:00:00Z Similarly, when you use a compound tense with had on the z/~side of the scale, you need a would have on the other. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z I know what she means, despite her tenses. Native Speaker 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z “As in past tense. That all ended after the election, didn’t it?” Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z Toby’s cheeks were hot, burning, the corners of his eyes tense and taut. A Tangle of Knots 2013-02-05T00:00:00Z She looks worried and tense, and I know she’s thinking about last night. I Can Make This Promise 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z When we finished, we looked at the bus driver for a tense second. The Perks of Being a Wallflower 1999-02-01T00:00:00Z Amari tensed and tried to jerk away, but the chains were too tight. Copper Sun 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z I can barely breathe, I feel so tense and awkward. Leah on the Offbeat 2018-04-24T00:00:00Z The people tensed, instinctively knowing that this was what they had been waiting for. October Sky 1999-04-01T00:00:00Z The doctor was tense, standing by the door, and Luke moved over to stand beside him. The Haunting of Hill House 1959-10-01T00:00:00Z I could feel myself blushing and tensing up to fight back. The Journey of Little Charlie 2018-01-30T00:00:00Z For a tense moment, we stare at each other as the rain drums against the windows. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z These last few weeks, he had become tense and reclusive, but that night, he had been at ease. The City Beautiful 2021-10-05T00:00:00Z The voices became muffled then, but Ivy could still hear tense mumbling. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World 2018-03-06T00:00:00Z Jake drank in great panting gulps—standing half-naked in the middle of the room, his head thrown back and one of his hands closed in a tense fist. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z She was eyeing the dance floor, and I tensed up a bit because I thought she might be contemplating reentering her circle of friends below, and I think we both knew I wouldn’t fit in. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet 2007-04-30T00:00:00Z And the longer we continued to stand there, the more tense I grew because I could see this was the opportunity I’d been waiting for. Never Let Me Go 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z The second principle is that backshifting is not mandatory, which means that violating the sequence-of-tense rules and keeping the reported content in the present tense is not always an error. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z A muscle tensed below the wad of fat on his jaw. The God of Small Things 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z I grew tense and tears burnt my cheeks. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z Everything good and alive and hopeful made her smile, but what was left to fall into ruin made her tense up and turn her head away. Dead End in Norvelt 2011-09-13T00:00:00Z Flora listened, and she could feel Ulysses, his body tense and expectant, listening, too. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures 2013-09-24T00:00:00Z Now Mr. Rice left the piano and stood before us, his arms tense, his long fingers slightly curved. Jacob Have I Loved 1980-01-01T00:00:00Z I tried to turn around and they gave me a push in the small of the back but I saw they had their guns out and they were looking more tense with every step. 145th Street: Short Stories 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z The crow must have felt her grow tense, for suddenly from ahead she heard his voice: “An updraft,” he said. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH 1970-06-01T00:00:00Z Lily shook her head again, and Toby could see the muscles in Jimmy’s face tense. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z I could feel the other prisoners tensing around me. Prisoner B-3087 2013-03-01T00:00:00Z Reynie watched his friend’s face grow tense with the effort of resisting. The Mysterious Benedict Society 2008-04-01T00:00:00Z The man-thing tensed, snarled, and then took off like an Olympic sprinter—not toward us but around us, diving behind a pile of rocks and popping up again with a fang-bearing grin. Hollow City 2014-01-14T00:00:00Z Immediately my body tenses, but she puts two fingers to her lips—the most binding of Tribal vows. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z He leaned under to wash the horse’s belly and the horse tensed. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 1943-01-01T00:00:00Z The negotiations became more and more tense, and the Carter contingent changed its mind. Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z “Look at me,” Toby said, his voice still tense. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z In the sudden tense silence, the air wrinkling between them all, Georgina got up and said, “Everyone ready for my roast lamb?” Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z I tense my shoulders, about to shrug and say I don’t know, and then an image of the pier stretching out beneath me comes into my mind. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z On weekends Nicholas walked around the house in a tense cloud of silence, nursing his worries. Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z When the main action takes place in a past tense, the verb that follows after is in the simple past: I would have started dinner after the guests arrived. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Illness is a story told in the past tense. Turtles All the Way Down 2017-10-10T00:00:00Z Several verbs ending in t or d have all but dropped the emending in the past tense. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z His daughter Una had become a brooding student, tense and dark. East of Eden 1952-09-01T00:00:00Z The ball came back to Rostelli who dribbled it to the right of the key, Ben overplaying the right hand again, watching, tensing, until the moment Rostelli moved the ball to his left hand. The Great Santini 1976-01-01T00:00:00Z Henry, looking tense and unhappy, but within arm’s reach. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z The two at the table began a tense, halting conversation as Kvothe moved into the kitchen. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z Those are past tenses of related verbs, waken and awaken. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z A loud rustling nearby made Richard tense until a redheaded lizard crawled out. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z Day moves his injured leg a little and tenses up in pain. Legend 2011-11-29T00:00:00Z Her whole body had tensed up, knowing she’d walked into a reveal dinner, which meant they were moving again. Book Scavenger 2015-06-02T00:00:00Z I held on to the ticket and my body grew tense, hot as fire; but I was used to that too. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z If you’re scared of both the past and the future, having a dismal record in the former and no ideas for the latter, you can always just wallow in the present tense of demonstrative rhetoric. Words Like Loaded Pistols 2011-10-20T00:00:00Z If a sentence has other verbs in the past tense, use only might. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z The traditional past tense of sneak is sneaked but snuck is quietly sneaking up. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z All of the contacts I saw with the whites who came to our door were tense and frightening, no matter why they occurred, because we were always afraid of doing something to upset them. March Forward, Girl 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z I tensed, waiting for the sound of the bat against the ball, and when it came it sounded like a gunshot. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z But as my father relaxed, my mother became more tense. Homesick 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z Around him the crew tenses in anticipation of what he might do. Challenger Deep 2015-04-15T00:00:00Z Will’s did, too, and both children climbed down, finding themselves stiff and shaken after the continued jolting and tensing. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z A lifetime of slavery shifted suddenly into the past tense. Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West 2013-03-26T00:00:00Z I’d been tensed up to explain myself, and now all that energy has nowhere to go. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z It’s a tense moment, with Marge prying and Holly just as rudely stonewalling, but Holly, as team leader, prevails. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z But soon enough, our faces tensed again, and we all grumbled as the immigration officers also asked us to pay before we could cross the boundary. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z She tensed as she stepped down, waiting for a single sound that would send her springing back to her rooms. Throne of Glass 2012-08-07T00:00:00Z She tensed as Cain came to stand nearby, half-hidden in the shadow of the clock tower behind them. Throne of Glass 2012-08-07T00:00:00Z The mood in the castle as they entered June became excited and tense again. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire 2000-07-08T00:00:00Z He was tensed to meet its leap, and he found he still had the hilt of the knife in his hand; at least he could use it to hit with. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z The thought made him tense up his shoulders. The City of Ember 2003-05-01T00:00:00Z Sometimes Eliza did funny things with her face, tensing her mouth, blinking her eyes a lot. Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story 2016-06-28T00:00:00Z For a moment Kvothe tensed as if he would leap up and tear this sheet away from Chronicler as well. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z A bigger part of me knows this is my destiny, what thirteen years of torture have prepared me for, like my entire, tense childhood can be unspooled. Better Nate Than Ever 2013-02-05T00:00:00Z The silence into which Briony read the prologue was tense. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z A tensing goes out of their bodies, out of the house. The Woman Warrior 1976-01-01T00:00:00Z But most guys just got all tense around Joey in normal social situations, like any time when we weren’t out on the pitch and bashing each others’ brains in playing rugby. Winger 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z They stare at screens with tense eyes, focused. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z Gary pipes up, "Me too," and I'm tensing my fists, my jaw locked, and I just want to scream, but instead I say, "Whatever, I'm going home," because / don't have a fake ID. Will Grayson, Will Grayson 2010-04-06T00:00:00Z I lay tense in the bed, watching him. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z She knelt down before him, her whole body tense, and asked for the judgment. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z The city folks stood outside on their verandahs, tensed up, shaking with fear. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z His hands, still clasping her head, tensed suddenly and drew her toward him in a passionate kiss. The Golden Compass 1995-07-01T00:00:00Z He glanced around, tense and a little uneasy. The God of Small Things 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z Then he tensed, looking past her with wide eyes. Anya and the Nightingale 2020-11-10T00:00:00Z So she held on, taking huge gulps of air, tensing her muscles, priming them for flight. Bone Gap 2015-03-03T00:00:00Z “Some things don’t have to end,” I muttered through my teeth, instantly tense. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z Bo pretended he hadn't noticed the tense atmosphere and carried on feeding his kittens. The Thief Lord 2002-09-01T00:00:00Z His red suit made his pupils look even more washed out, and his body seemed tense, like a dog scenting its prey. Inkheart 2003-09-23T00:00:00Z But although we could not see them anymore, we knew they had not gone far, only a few kilometers away, and Mingora remained a tense and frightened city. Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World 2013-10-08T00:00:00Z Even the worst part of the job, carrying out the loaded garbage cans, didn't seem so bad when the muscles across his back and shoulders rippled and tensed. The Contender 1967-01-01T00:00:00Z After six more searches had been conducted in our alley, they were no longer exciting, but the adults I knew grew more and more tense. Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution 1998-01-01T00:00:00Z Over the next few weeks, as one day grinds into the next, life is quiet and tense. Orphan Train 2013-04-02T00:00:00Z And the strain of helping to plan the mission, which involved outlining what they were going to do after arriving, had made him very tense. Nazi Saboteurs 2019-12-03T00:00:00Z All lined up tense; then Go! and down the track they raised the dust in a flying bunch, strung out longer and longer behind Prince Klytoneus. The Odyssey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z I was tense, as usual, turning my sugar to caramel. The Help 2009-02-10T00:00:00Z The next few minutes drag on in a tense silence. Amina's Voice 2017-03-14T00:00:00Z It’s tiring to be on guard all the time, to keep my muscles tense and wary. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Inej couldn’t make out the rest of what they said, but she could tell the exchange was tense before Nina made an exasperated sound and vanished belowdecks. Six of Crows 2015-09-29T00:00:00Z The air seemed still and tense about him. The Two Towers 1954-11-11T00:00:00Z I can’t seem tense, even though I feel like my insides are writhing within me. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z He was speaking in the past tense even though she was still holding the gourd. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z A triangular knot of muscle tenses in his jaw and disappears. Middlesex: A Novel 2002-06-05T00:00:00Z The first time I drove on a highway, with traffic, I was so tense that my legs were like sticks that wouldn’t bend. Courage to Soar 2016-11-15T00:00:00Z She could hear things long before I. When she grew tense, I listened or looked. My Side of the Mountain 1959-01-01T00:00:00Z Sierra spun around, her whole body tensed to strike, but the corpse-like man was still nowhere to be seen. Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z Everybody looked tense, watching Lupin, both wanting him to go on, it seemed to Harry, and slightly afraid of what they might hear. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2007-07-21T00:00:00Z The jostling, the bumping of porters and sidestepping of sacks made him tense. Middlesex: A Novel 2002-06-05T00:00:00Z He felt his face begin to glow and the tense, cold skin of his arms and hands relax. The Giver 1993-04-01T00:00:00Z The days were long and the atmosphere tense. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War 2015-09-22T00:00:00Z Allred tensed for Major's attack, but there was only surprise on the heavy face. The Contender 1967-01-01T00:00:00Z It was a tense, strained alliance, particularly between Riefenstahl and Goebbels. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics 2014-05-27T00:00:00Z Things were still tense between us since our fight outside of J.P. From the Desk of Zoe Washington 2020-01-14T00:00:00Z He carefully straightened his long legs under his desk, then tensed his back and stretched his arms, tilting his head slowly from side to side. The Landry News 1999-12-01T00:00:00Z It cheers me up to know I’ll soon be so tense. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z Saturday dawned without any more outbursts from Mrs. Weasley, though she seemed very tense at breakfast. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2005-07-16T00:00:00Z But even she had a tense look around her eyes, like she was fighting against squeezing them shut and pretending none of this had happened. The Strangers 2019-04-02T00:00:00Z Her shoulders tensed as she said the word camp. The Sea of Monsters 2006-04-01T00:00:00Z “Here in Brooklyn ‘stood’ is like the past tense of ‘stay.’ A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 1943-01-01T00:00:00Z Elizabeth’s tense, listening expression changed to a slowly dawning smile. The Incredible Journey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z Under her faded sari her breasts hung loose; gone was the tense suppleness that had been her pride and her power. Nectar in a Sieve 1954-01-01T00:00:00Z It’s been a whole day since Mrs. Kluck yelled at her, but her eyes are still red, and she and Baba exchange tense little glances. A Place at the Table 2020-08-11T00:00:00Z More than that, the teacher, usually so calm, was now tense, alert, and appeared to be waiting for something. Messenger 2004-04-26T00:00:00Z Thornton’s voice rang out, sharp in the tense silence. The Call of the Wild 1903-01-01T00:00:00Z And Diana’s eyes were narrowed and her face tense with concentration as she prepared to shoot again. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z In the televised debates between party leaders ahead of the 2010 elections in the UK, incumbent Prime Minister Gordon Brown made the mistake of choosing the wrong tense, and was punished for it. Words Like Loaded Pistols 2011-10-20T00:00:00Z Reassuringly she placed her arm across his tense shoulders. The Giver 1993-04-01T00:00:00Z His tense posture would have suited a short stubby man who wanted to appear taller, but he himself was almost six feet tall and slender. The House of the Spirits: A Novel 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z Now when a writer really does want to refer to a past-time event in a remote conditional, he needs the past tense of a past-tense form. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z I tense up at the thought but then force myself to stagger forward... Amari and the Night Brothers 2021-01-19T00:00:00Z Despite his silence he is poised, alert, the comers of his mouth tensed. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z His tone was teasing, yet she tensed slightly at his question; it seemed too close to her vulnerable, soft core. Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z That night, I barely sleep, my muscles tensed, watching my locked bedroom door. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z They had all been standing in tense silence, thinking. Anya and the Nightingale 2020-11-10T00:00:00Z He relaxed—which he hated because he kept telling himself he wasn’t tense. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z Joseph’s head was spinning, and a long tense silence settled across the room. The Marvels 2015-09-15T00:00:00Z I was tense as I talked, almost holding my breath. Slam! 1996-11-01T00:00:00Z He tensed, like a spring about to whip back, and then he shot into the air. Norse Mythology 2017-02-07T00:00:00Z They were just finishing up when the bats went tense. Gregor the Overlander 2003-09-01T00:00:00Z The ship lurched just as Mark shoved the man’s hips through the open space, his muscles tensed as he pushed. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin) 2012-08-14T00:00:00Z She pressed down slowly, his skin warm under the soles of her feet, his tense muscles unknotting. Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z And yet, because everything was so new, I began to grow tense again, although it was a different sort of tension than I had known before. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z The vines creaked and tensed as the weight of the cauldron shifted. The Black Cauldron 1965-06-01T00:00:00Z I looked at Hamlet, whose body was tense with anger. Ophelia 2006-10-31T00:00:00Z I can feel myself getting tense and tight. Out of My Mind 2010-03-09T00:00:00Z We now see that the past tense has a third meaning in English: a backshifted event in a sequence of tenses. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z I stepped forward, and he tensed, probably smelling something was wrong. The Last Olympian 2009-05-05T00:00:00Z I pulled her up and we lay trembling on the pavement I didn't realize we had our arms around each other until she suddenly tensed. The Last Olympian 2009-05-05T00:00:00Z “You didn’t seem this tense at the last conclave,” Citra noted. Scythe 2016-11-22T00:00:00Z They were tense, each of them with their fingers on their triggers. Zeitoun 2009-07-15T00:00:00Z He has dark circles under his eyes and a tense set to his mouth—he’s as tired as we are. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z This led to thoughts—as he lay there tensed, waiting for another gunshot—about the ways people tried to fool animals. The Milagro Beanfield War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z If the mood in the room was tense he might suddenly pull his pants up high above his waist like a nerd to get people giggling. The 57 Bus 2017-10-17T00:00:00Z It felt to him like that moment right before a high school track race, when the runners are tensed and waiting for the bang of the starter’s gun. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War 2015-09-22T00:00:00Z My shoulders tense; I feel Ayesha’s arm tighten around my back. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z I disappeared into my room the minute the air tensed and wrapped myself in a thin sheet that didn’t silence their insults but made me invisible to the hate that clouded their eyes. When I Was Puerto Rican 1993-09-20T00:00:00Z She no longer threw up every day, but she stayed nervous and tense. Forged by Fire 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z She still speaks of it in the present tense. Everything, Everything 2015-09-01T00:00:00Z But his voice was tense, and he looked frightened. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z While black leaders had tried to defuse the situation after the tense marches of the summer, by that fall tempers were flaring again. The Best of Enemies 1996-04-01T00:00:00Z The month that followed the accident was uneasy, tense, and, at first, embarrassing. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z “Stop talking about her in past tense. She could be back in Lithuania soon.” Salt to the Sea 2016-02-02T00:00:00Z With each step, another muscle in my body tenses. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z Nearby a door opened and closed, leaving me as tense as ever. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z He was already looking at their relationship through the lens of the past tense. Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z The shadows tensed but Sierra waved them back. Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z She held that tense, almost fetal position for a suspensory moment—then broke down. Franny and Zooey 1961-09-14T00:00:00Z “I—I want to announce,” Mr. Dalton said in a quiet voice that carried throughout the room, though it was spoken in a tense whisper, “that Miss Dalton has been kidnapped. . . .” Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z Ma cries softly, her body tense with fear and her hands holding on to Geak. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z “The new members were tense with expectancy and curiosity.” Bomb 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z As soon as the action on the board began to grow tense or complicated, the boy would grow more pensive and often have to kneel on the bench to get a better perspective. Endgame 2011-02-01T00:00:00Z When he did, mid-morning, as soon as he landed on the shore he jumped back and half fell in the water and seemed very tense. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z Cole held his breath and tensed to lessen the pain in his ribs. Touching Spirit Bear 2001-01-09T00:00:00Z She seemed to be watching him intently, her body—all softness just moments before—coiled and tense. Bone Gap 2015-03-03T00:00:00Z There’s nothing wrong with using lit for the past tense of light: Paul lit two cigarettes, then gave one to Bette. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z He was so tense in mind and body that his lips trembled. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z Even so, that first visit was rather tense. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z But Tayo had heard; he always listened to her, and now his stomach felt tense; he was afraid maybe she was right, because he already knew she was right about some things. Ceremony: 1977-03-01T00:00:00Z I had not realized that I was so tense. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z Father went to the window and peered out, his jaw tense. The Rock and the River 2009-01-06T00:00:00Z After a visit in which Winnie’s face looked drawn or tense, I would urge her to put on a bit of weight. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z I felt as tense and expectant as I did then. Rebecca 1938-08-01T00:00:00Z Even though the brothers didn’t actually attack him, Humphrey became more and more tense when they were around. My Life with the Chimpanzees 1988-03-01T00:00:00Z I could feel the muscle right beneath the skin, all tense and amazing. The Fault in Our Stars 2012-01-10T00:00:00Z I picture it now, and I feel strange, tense all over, my stomach churning. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z I wander through the streets alone—not the relaxing stroll of a summer night, but the tense hurry to get—where? Flowers for Algernon 1959-05-01T00:00:00Z Its tense ears were forward and a light of disobedience was in its eyes. The Red Pony 1937-01-01T00:00:00Z I assigned this tension to the new environment of the island; any change, even positive, will make an animal tense. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z Sometimes Papi pauses as he walks by, the reddish light illuminating his tense face. Before We Were Free 2002-08-13T00:00:00Z Exhausted and tense, he would pad down to the dark kitchen and make himself a huge sandwich and a pot of coffee. The Woman All Spies Fear 2021-10-19T00:00:00Z I tense up at first, unsure of myself, so when he pulls away, I’m sure I did something wrong, or badly. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z I roll my shoulders a couple of times, trying to loosen up the suddenly tense muscles. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z Ruth tensed and glanced quickly about to see who was present. Never Let Me Go 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z “Because all of this happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Holmesy. You always use the past tense when talking about Star Wars. Duh.” Turtles All the Way Down 2017-10-10T00:00:00Z His leg was tensed and trembling as she took the forceps. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z Bootsteps shuffle and thump around me, Centurions shout orders, and I hear amphitheater and Fourth Trial My whole body tenses. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z The guests were never less than courteous to one another, but for all that, a rather tense atmosphere, charac-terized largely by distrust, seemed to prevail at this stage. The Remains of the Day 1989-05-01T00:00:00Z Sitting on the curb across the street, the man stared feverishly at us, tensed, ready to come for the food when called. Black Like Me 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z Bloom stiffened now, growing tense for real, defensive and angry. The Milagro Beanfield War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z From inside of the office comes the faint sound of footsteps, and Katherine tenses. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z Since it’s in the past tense, use would: Dudley said he would make waffles for breakfast. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z She seems tense, like she thinks I might attack her at any moment. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z It’s like the satisfaction I just got from a scene I wrote, where an old nemesis of Ben-Jamin unexpectedly popped back in and is making things extra tense. What If It's Us 2018-10-09T00:00:00Z He became tense and agitated as he played, and made his moves rapidly as though points were awarded for speed. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z Rabia looks from one of us to the other, as if she’s watching an entertainingly tense moment in a TV soap opera. A Place at the Table 2020-08-11T00:00:00Z One look at the charged, tense atmosphere would have made the facts abundantly clear. Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z As the experimental chamber lost its humidity, the DNA molecules relaxed and tensed—exhaling, inhaling, exhaling, like life itself. The Gene 2016-06-02T00:00:00Z She tensed and froze up when she saw me, but I could see her shoulders relax when she realized it was just me. Winger 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z After an intense stare at Orange Juice, the hairs on its neck and shoulders stood up and its tail rose straight in the air. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z I’m standing on a track, watching the train barrel toward me, and I tense up and wait for the impact, the moment she asks what happened. The Hate U Give 2017-02-28T00:00:00Z I told him I loved him and I felt every muscle in his body tense, as if he knew what was coming and was bracing himself for it. The Girl on the Train 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z I would wait for hours, my body tense till it ached. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z And for a second I thought he had caught me in the sweep of his eyes, and tensed. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z But fear best thrives in the present tense. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything 2005-04-12T00:00:00Z Our family tried to carry on as normal, but we were tense all the time. Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World 2013-10-08T00:00:00Z I hated these emotional outbursts, these tempests of passion, for they always left me tense and weak. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z He was tense and red-faced, his tiny nose drizzling snot. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World 2018-03-06T00:00:00Z Mark tensed his muscles and swung his arm around, aiming for the man, but he missed and the guy grabbed his shirt, then yanked his entire body forward. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin) 2012-08-14T00:00:00Z My muscles tense instinctively, preparing for her fists. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z She clutches her hands together in a tight, tense squeeze. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z Sometimes they call be the “present subjunctive” and were the “past subjunctive,” but in reality there’s no difference in tense between them. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z It might have been my imagination, but she looked a little tense. City of the Plague God 2021-01-12T00:00:00Z “Go ahead. I’m tense; excuse me if I talk too much.” Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1968-01-02T00:00:00Z He sat quivering, every nerve tense, recognizing the smell, and presently past the opening of the cave waddled a large porcupine, returning peacefully home from a night’s foraging. The Incredible Journey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z Kaede was crowded so close to her that Taisin could feel the other girl’s muscles as tense as a drawn bowstring. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z And I was suddenly tense—to me also very significant. The Autobiography of Malcolm X 1965-01-01T00:00:00Z We were all squeezed together in the grass, and I felt Emma’s body tense next to mine. Hollow City 2014-01-14T00:00:00Z I was tense during the days I waited for Granny, and when she came I gave up, letting her handle things, answering questions automatically, obeying, knowing that somehow I had to face things alone. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z Relocation Rule Number 5: Nothing takes the air out of a tense situation like extreme politeness and a big smile. Hope Springs 2021-08-10T00:00:00Z His whole body was tense and as he spoke his lips trembled. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z Ash felt herself tense up nervously, and she answered, “No, I haven’t.” Ash 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z One day we worked on verb tenses: “I surf the Net, I surfed the Net, I was surfing the Net.” Speak 1999-10-01T00:00:00Z From the first, it was not as though we were engaged in tense political arguments but a lively and interesting tutorial. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z “Four, three, two . “Oppenheimer, on whom had rested a very heavy burden, grew tenser as the last seconds ticked off,” remembered Farrell. Bomb 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z During the loud parts, my shoulders tense and I concentrate on my breath, counting the beats. Muffled 2020-10-27T00:00:00Z Farid felt Silvertongue tensing every muscle—as if he wanted to run to his daughter, who looked almost as pale as her dress. Inkheart 2003-09-23T00:00:00Z “And the only person whom I’ll be subjecting to questioning is you, tomorrow afternoon, regarding the proper use of grammatical tenses!” Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z He could feel the tensed, straddling inside of her buffeting thighs and knees squeezing and churning around one of his legs. Catch-22 1961-11-10T00:00:00Z "Don't worry about it," he says, his voice growing tense. How It Went Down 2014-10-21T00:00:00Z He stretched out on the ground in a pose of complete relaxation, but Gregor could see his muscles were still tense with anger. Gregor the Overlander 2003-09-01T00:00:00Z As Doc crouched down by a little wooden cage, I tensed up, and he noticed. Root Magic 2021-01-05T00:00:00Z I’m slowly growing used to talking about Metias in past tense. Legend 2011-11-29T00:00:00Z Peewee was in front of me, and I could feel his body tense. Fallen Angels 1988-01-01T00:00:00Z There was a tense moment when Dimple didn’t know which way this would go. When Dimple Met Rishi 2017-05-30T00:00:00Z I am cautious and tense, my heart thumps. All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel 1929-01-01T00:00:00Z I got tense and started to scan the crowd. The Stars Beneath Our Feet 2017-09-19T00:00:00Z I twitch at every unidentified noise, tensing until I realize it is just the wind, or the squeak of Tobias’s shoes on the rail. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z I was very tense because they were going to determine how much of the sixty days to six years I would have to serve. Hole in My Life 2002-03-26T00:00:00Z She crept onward, her muscles tense, looking carefully around for her company. Breadcrumbs 2011-09-27T00:00:00Z The student body of the college was tense with suppressed violence. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z “Oh, yes, very much,” she replied politely, like a child at a patty, unlocking her tense fingers to adjust her palla. Tiger, Tiger 2004-10-04T00:00:00Z I feel his body tense up, hear his heart race, see tears flowing out from under the blindfold. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z Each morning I took Ancient Greek from Annabeth, and we talked about the gods and goddesses in the present tense, which was kind of weird. The Lightning Thief 2005-07-01T00:00:00Z He stepped forward, muscles tensed, ready to use force if necessary, but she scrambled away, almost tripping onto the dead weeds of her yard. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin) 2012-08-14T00:00:00Z Edith straightened and tensed, demonstrating with her posture how nervous she and the others had been. Son 2012-10-02T00:00:00Z The man’s voice was low, excited, tense; but what it lacked in volume was more than made up for in the breathless manner in which he spoke. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z I remembered how tense everyone had been after the news broke. The City Beautiful 2021-10-05T00:00:00Z I am tense, turning the handle in my fingers as we walk down the alley. Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z Everybody was going about their normal business, but they looked tense. The Lightning Thief 2005-07-01T00:00:00Z The room spun round me, a swirl of lights, smoke, sweating bodies surrounded by tense white faces. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z Boss seems to sense trouble and the muscles of his arms tense; Mark sees his finger tighten on the trigger of the gun. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin) 2012-08-14T00:00:00Z When it was just a foot away, Thomas tensed his muscles and swung the spear up, around, and toward the ceiling as hard as he could. The Maze Runner 2009-10-06T00:00:00Z He lay on his bed fully clothed and fell asleep at once, his dreams tense and crowded, his mother’s unhappy, frightened face always there just out of reach. The Subtle Knife 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z Archer was awake too, sitting upright, tense and alert. The Reader 2016-01-12T00:00:00Z At ’zactly ten minutes after noon the voices of the students was heard and my stomach started tensing up. The Journey of Little Charlie 2018-01-30T00:00:00Z Powell’s radio voice was tense in Donovan’s ear: “Now, look, let’s start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics—the three rules that are built most deeply into a robot’s positronic brain.” I, Robot 1950-12-02T00:00:00Z Negotiations between black leaders and white authorities had hardened into a tense stalemate, with the whole Southern way of life at stake. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice 2009-01-20T00:00:00Z She’s staring up at me, and things are a little tense. Odd One Out 2018-08-09T00:00:00Z It was getting a little tense in our dining room. Red Kayak 2004-09-23T00:00:00Z Feeling both tense and relaxed, he sank his fingers into the grass. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z His body was tensed as a strong leaf spring drawn to the breaking strain; his face was grave and gray, and his eyes were on the ground immediately ahead of him. Travels with Charley in Search of America 1962-01-01T00:00:00Z His mustache made him appear very angry; his manner was tense. The Fighting Ground 1984-04-01T00:00:00Z “Her pulse is full, quick, and tense,” he said, pushing up Mother’s sleeve. Fever 1793 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z He helped his mother to her feet while his father watched, fists clenched, still ready to fight, breathing loudly through his nose as his jaw muscles tensed and relaxed. The Serpent King 2016-03-08T00:00:00Z The people in the audience waited; the atmosphere was tense and charged. Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z His shoulders tense, he slipped the reel inside the enlarger’s cartridge. Shooting Kabul 2010-06-22T00:00:00Z For over a year he served as chair of the Board of War and Ordinance, playing the role of secretary of war during the most tense and uncertain phase of the fighting. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation 2000-10-17T00:00:00Z She was dry and tense when he entered her. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z Everyone was sitting forward now, tense and silent, and Ash felt the breeze on her skin bring a rush of blood to the surface. Ash 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z “We’d better g—” he started to say, but his voice trailed off as he saw the expression on the face of the tense, still frozen boy beside him', then followed the direction of his gaze... The Incredible Journey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z The hostess was tense; it would be the first time she had entertained in her new home. In Cold Blood 1966-01-01T00:00:00Z She sat still for a long, tense moment, as still as Papa was, as still as we all were. Purple Hibiscus 2003-10-01T00:00:00Z Kira asked, remembering how the cloth had seemed to tense and tremble when she saw Matt holding the spear. Gathering Blue 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z On the sidelines, Agent Jones looked angry and tense as he barked terse orders. Beauty Queens 2011-05-24T00:00:00Z Fadi tensed, looking for a way to avoid whoever was looking for him. Shooting Kabul 2010-06-22T00:00:00Z The tense line of his mouth, the narrowing of his eyes. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z She gave my knee a squeeze and for a second I kind of tensed up, fearing the boy-fondled-by-drunken-depressed-widow worst. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet 2007-04-30T00:00:00Z I tensed up as the doctors tried again. Ugly 2013-08-20T00:00:00Z The foxes of the Arctic, scavengers that they were, had picked up some language, but their brains were so formed that they could only understand statements in the present tense. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z Cole tensed his arm to throw away the stark reminder of his mauling, but paused. Touching Spirit Bear 2001-01-09T00:00:00Z My whole being tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver. The Stranger 1989-03-13T00:00:00Z On the night of graduation I was nervous and tense; I rose and faced the audience and my speech rolled out. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z I expected the noise, I was even tensed for it, but still my heart took a hop. The Things They Carried 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z “She had good reason to cry,” Ms. Morales said, her voice tense. The Strangers 2019-04-02T00:00:00Z At first, everyone stood around uncertainly, speaking in tense whispers or silent with fear. A Long Walk to Water 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z When he opened his eyes, he saw her the way he'd left her in the RV—tense and resigned, so far gone that light wouldn't even catch in her eyes. Eleanor & Park 2013-02-26T00:00:00Z He recalled the way his father had tensed, hand flying to the hilt of his hanjari. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z While he stood some of the small, roundish fish came quite close to his legs and he tensed, got ready, and made a wild stab at grabbing one of them. Hatchet 1987-01-01T00:00:00Z It was a strange letter, written in a tense and rigid hand: Forgive me, my daughter. The Westing Game 1979-01-01T00:00:00Z When the wind was from the west, carrying the smell of burned land, the men seemed tense. Pax 2016-02-02T00:00:00Z Now her little face was all tensed up. When I Was the Greatest 2014-01-07T00:00:00Z Ernie immediately winced and tensed, his hands closing into tight fists as Dr. Maris pushed the first tooth back into his gum, like a plug into a socket. As Brave As You 2016-05-03T00:00:00Z She’s calmer now, air sucks evenly into her lungs, we lean forward, tensed, the muscles in our backs and bellies hurt from the strain. The Handmaid's Tale 1985-01-01T00:00:00Z I tensed like violin strings tuned to the highest note. Three Little Words: A Memoir 2007-12-27T00:00:00Z The other guys were already lined up, tense, waiting, aware that the coach wasn’t happy with them. The Chocolate War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z “Two different things. First time you said you don’t know what to make of me. Just now you said didn’t. Past tense. Big difference. You’ve come to a decision?” The Adoration of Jenna Fox 2008-04-29T00:00:00Z “Do as I say,” he said, but in so tense a fashion I dared not question him. Crispin: The Cross of Lead 2002-06-01T00:00:00Z My thighs tensed as the weight grew more substantial. Endangered 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z His face is tense—he isn’t a sleepwalker. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z For a second, she wasn’t sure why she was tensing up. Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z I tensed, but the man on the throne just smiled at his daughters. The Battle of the Labyrinth 2008-05-06T00:00:00Z She looked tense and nervous, and Harry noticed that her hands were twisting in her lap. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets 1998-07-02T00:00:00Z In the room there was a feeling tense as conspiracy or as the deadly quiet before an explosion. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z Beside me, Ollie's gait is relaxed, but his upper body looks tense, and we speak to each other in gestures while ignoring the shouting I can still hear from a few blocks over. Girl in the Blue Coat 2016-04-05T00:00:00Z “I think what you mostly need is to get comfortable with it. You’re very tense.” Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z It becomes quickly apparent he’s approaching ROSE, who is tense as she awaits her fate. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 2016-07-31T00:00:00Z Rab poured the punch and instantly the tense silence was broken. Johnny Tremain 1943-01-01T00:00:00Z How tense she’d been! — clenching her fists at night, digging her nails into her palms. Typical American 1991-01-01T00:00:00Z A very tense silence followed this pronouncement, but Professor Trelawney seemed unaware of it. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban 1999-07-08T00:00:00Z His body shifted suddenly, half-crouched, tensed like a lion about to pounce. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z I tensed up, but they were with their own families, heads down, arms wrapped around themselves. Root Magic 2021-01-05T00:00:00Z But he, too, like the others, would soon forget, would become caught up in the tense grind of struggling for bread. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z I mean, I can even try to define is if I want, because equality isn’t really working in the present tense, is it? Ask the Passengers 2012-10-23T00:00:00Z Beside me, Nero tensed his long black body and twitched his tail, his green eyes wide with curiosity.Georgie was still breathing hard from running to warn me. The Old Willis Place 2004-09-20T00:00:00Z The guards stood alert and tense in the shadow of the trees. The Two Towers 1954-11-11T00:00:00Z They had this tense look about them, like they were in a hurry and I’d caught them at a bad time. From Twinkle, with Love 2018-05-22T00:00:00Z My muscles tense, but I keep a smile on my face. Love, Hate & Other Filters 2018-01-16T00:00:00Z Tony’s fists were clenched and his jaw tense as he eyed his little brother up and down. The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates 2010-04-27T00:00:00Z He knew by the little interval before she answered that she had tensed. East of Eden 1952-09-01T00:00:00Z He stood up for a moment, tense and menacing; and then he collapsed, falling forward on to all fours and crawling up the bank of the pit. The Two Towers 1954-11-11T00:00:00Z He stared down at his paper plate, his face expressionless, and I almost had the feeling that he had gone rigid, tense, as a soldier does before he jumps from shelter into open combat. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z At 15:00, the designated hour, we stand tense and silent in the back of a room full of screens and computers and watch Beetee and his team try to dominate the airwaves. Mockingjay 2010-08-24T00:00:00Z I tensed up, preparing to run and try ... Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel 2011-09-15T00:00:00Z The Nightingale tensed, half fading out of sight. Anya and the Nightingale 2020-11-10T00:00:00Z The other tributes are gathered in a tense circle. The Hunger Games 2008-09-14T00:00:00Z Three tense weeks after that, Eric took a temp job, as a network programmer with Andersen Consulting that paid $35,000 a year. Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z He writes to Theo that she’s “far from being as one would like to see her, sometimes she still looks so pale and tense, and is always so weak.” Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers 2017-04-18T00:00:00Z He doesn’t scowl, but his mouth is so tense that I know he’s angry with me. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z “I’ve only gone as far as the past perfect tense in my French book.” The Poisonwood Bible 1998-01-01T00:00:00Z My body tensed, and I think he saw it, because he pulled his hand away. The Fault in Our Stars 2012-01-10T00:00:00Z Her whole body is tense and still, skirt trailing to the floor of the platform. Leah on the Offbeat 2018-04-24T00:00:00Z Every muscle in her body tensed as she leaned down, closer to his/ace this time. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z Here there is nothing to do but wait for something to happen, and far from making me feel relaxed, it makes me feel jittery and tense. Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z Another series of tense, last-minute meetings took place with the president and his advisors. Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam 2018-04-10T00:00:00Z Controlling the tense of an argument is a very good way of controlling its direction because it is, essentially, a way of controlling which branch of oratory you find yourself in. Words Like Loaded Pistols 2011-10-20T00:00:00Z So of course I tensed up when he touched me. The Fault in Our Stars 2012-01-10T00:00:00Z He paused, raised his eyebrows as Toby tensed. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z She went around the bush with him, still tense. Fablehaven 2006-07-30T00:00:00Z The “rockets’ red glare” high part explodes in my ears, and my shoulders tense at “bombs bursting in air.” Muffled 2020-10-27T00:00:00Z Vandara’s hand still gripped the rock, and her shoulders were tense, preparing to throw. Gathering Blue 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z “That’s not very nice. You look tense. How about a nice shoulder massage?” The Battle of the Labyrinth 2008-05-06T00:00:00Z Tyler stared at the floor, his face tense. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z As they crossed the bridge out of the village, Anya tensed up. Anya and the Dragon 2019-09-24T00:00:00Z Everything Eric did—sitting here, asking about Four—suggests that they are, but the way Four sits, tense as pulled wire, suggests they are something else. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z For a tense moment, we look at each other. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z Taisin began to tense up; she had a dreadful fear that she knew what the Queen was about to say. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z I saw his neck muscles tense up and he connected with a big cut. Life Is So Good 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z My heart is jumping around in my chest, and I'm tensed, ready to cut and run. Things Not Seen 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z He could not remember her features, but the look in her eyes stayed with him, as did the tense dryness between her legs, the way he had done what he had not wanted to do. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z He reaches down and puts both hands on Henry’s hips, and Henry instantly tenses under the touch. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z His friend sat stiff and tense, his knuckles white. The Chocolate War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z The first is to remember that past tense is not the same thing as past time. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z It’s not a strange question, after what we’ve been through, but I tense up when he asks it, worried that he’ll somehow see into my mind. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z And it doesn’t help that the whole school is tense and on edge. Linked 2021-07-20T00:00:00Z The two of them lay back and let the warmth of the water work on their tense muscles. Beauty Queens 2011-05-24T00:00:00Z He held his breath and waited, poised and tense. The Black Cauldron 1965-06-01T00:00:00Z It was all very informal, and very tense. The Left Hand of Darkness 1969-03-01T00:00:00Z He saw the other boys tense and Jorge’s mouth quiver on the edge of a smile. The House of the Scorpion 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z The doctor excused himself from the room, and Theo and Edith waited to see what would happen in tense, emotional silence. I Can Make This Promise 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z The final key to using sequences of tenses should be familiar from our discussion of if And then. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z But so did mine and Blanca’s, and in tense moments, I didn’t know who made more sense or where my loyalties should be placed. Bodega Dreams 2000-03-14T00:00:00Z Hideo’s shoulders are straight, and his posture is calm—but his eyes are tense, far away from here. Warcross 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z His face was tense with pain and fear. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z The monster tensed, gave a surprised grunt, then—snap! The Lightning Thief 2005-07-01T00:00:00Z Her whole body had tensed up, knowing she’d walked into a reveal dinner, which meant they were moving again. Book Scavenger 2015-06-02T00:00:00Z I was half asleep, tired, tense, all but swaying on my feet. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z But as I’m saying the words, my muscles tense and my breathing grows loud. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z One morning the atmosphere in the village suddenly became tense. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z Barely tensing her legs, she shot up over one of the apartment buildings, Kasusu shrieking with metallic laughter. City of the Plague God 2021-01-12T00:00:00Z A woman was there, and I tensed up. How Dare the Sun Rise 2017-05-16T00:00:00Z Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged tense looks and sank into chairs outside the pool of candlelight, watching. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets 1998-07-02T00:00:00Z I was feeling excited and a little tense, and I wished the people who were cheering would be quiet. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z I tense my fingers, about to grab the knife handle, but he doesn’t come close enough. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z They all stopped eating and sat there very tense, listening. Matilda 1988-10-01T00:00:00Z Isabel’s mother was tense because I had come from “that place” and needed supervision. Three Little Words: A Memoir 2007-12-27T00:00:00Z He pointed at the Witchlings, and the Nightbeast, which was directly above Thorn now, tensed its hind legs as if it were about to pounce. Witchlings 2022-04-05T00:00:00Z Each time I glanced at him, I felt that old instinct at work in me, tensing my muscles, preparing me to take flight. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z For an instant he thought it might be land-grant people, and his muscles tensed, ready to jump down and run to flag them down for a ride. Ceremony: 1977-03-01T00:00:00Z “But you know,” he said, “he’s not like all the other Koreans around here, all tense and everything.” Native Speaker 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z But as I stood in line at the gangway, I forgot to be so careful, and when I glanced again down the dock I saw him there, standing square and tense, looking right at me. Beyond the Bright Sea 2017-05-02T00:00:00Z I tense up as I wait for Christina to agree with her, but to my surprise—and relief—she doesn’t. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z “You have a lot of time yet for that,” I said, tense and uneasy. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z In the rearview mirror his face looked tense. It All Comes Down to This 2017-07-11T00:00:00Z I could see how tense she was, and for some reason that calmed me. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet 2007-04-30T00:00:00Z Then a knock sounded at the door and I sprang up, my heart tense. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z “I’ll help,” I offer, wanting to get out of that tense room. Before We Were Free 2002-08-13T00:00:00Z The president considered his options with his tense advisors. Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam 2018-04-10T00:00:00Z There was a disenfranchisement from both the present and the past, from the body beside him and the headlights in front of him; he was enclosed in a timeless realm without margins, outlines, or tense. The Great Santini 1976-01-01T00:00:00Z The people in the hall grew quiet, tense. The Inquisitor's Tale 2016-09-27T00:00:00Z My mother heaved a sigh of relief; her tense limbs relaxed. Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z I tense slightly as he comes toward us down the narrow aisle. Love, Hate & Other Filters 2018-01-16T00:00:00Z Her parents didn’t notice, and Jam stayed tense for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, until halfway through dinner, when Aloe asked Bitter if she was going to work that night. Pet 2019-09-10T00:00:00Z She tensed the muscles in her neck until every tendon rose to the surface beneath her skin, like strings under a drooping tent. The Book of Unknown Americans 2014-06-03T00:00:00Z “I love you present tense,” I whispered, and then put my hand on the middle of his chest and said, “It’s okay, Gus. It’s okay. It is. It’s okay, you hear me?” The Fault in Our Stars 2012-01-10T00:00:00Z I start to lower my arms, but the dog tenses up. Fast Pitch 2021-08-31T00:00:00Z I glanced at Faith, who was looking very tight, very tense behind the wheel. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet 2007-04-30T00:00:00Z He and Rita found themselves in the grip of tense silence. Killers of the Flower Moon 2017-04-18T00:00:00Z I was as tense as a cat in a room full of rockers. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate 2009-05-12T00:00:00Z The thing that made the evening tense was Patrick officially quit doing Frank ’N Furter in the show. The Perks of Being a Wallflower 1999-02-01T00:00:00Z As the days grew increasingly tense, my mother clearly missed more and more her village and the support of her extended family. The Boy on the Wooden Box 2013-08-27T00:00:00Z Then, with a tense expression, she dragged deeply on her cigarette and, exhaling the smoke through her nostrils, said—or, rather, erupted—“Oh, I wish I knew what I’m supposed to do with that child!” Franny and Zooey 1961-09-14T00:00:00Z Everything between the three of us seemed really delicate and I felt tense, but it wasn’t altogether a bad tension. Never Let Me Go 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z "I say . . ." he began, and I heard my voice come quiet from my tensed throat as I noticed by the clock that I had been gone only twenty minutes. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z I had already noticed how tense Phoebe’s whole family seemed, how tidy, how respectable, how thumpingly stiff. Walk Two Moons 1994-06-30T00:00:00Z His features are loose, but his eyes are tense and focused. Dumplin' 2015-09-15T00:00:00Z “She loves them. Just like every little girl. We buy her dolls, and my sisters buy her dolls, and our friends buy her dolls—” She giggled again, and Mr. Richardson’s jaw tensed. Little Fires Everywhere 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z If the atmosphere weren’t so tense, he probably would have laughed as he watched Njemile’s shoulders drop. Anger Is a Gift 2018-05-22T00:00:00Z And all the women in the house tensed each time Katie cried out, and they suffered with her. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 1943-01-01T00:00:00Z He looked upset and tense, and he kept playing with an earlock all the time we talked. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z His body touching mine was tense and delicious. Purple Hibiscus 2003-10-01T00:00:00Z Other members of the staff seemed oddly tense too. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire 2000-07-08T00:00:00Z Following some brief and, as I was later to observe, characteristically tense small talk with Rosy, Maurice and I walked down the Strand and across to Choy’s Restaurant in Soho. Double Helix 1968-02-27T00:00:00Z I was tense as I began the countdown. October Sky 1999-04-01T00:00:00Z “So what are you saying?” said Ron, looking very tense. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban 1999-07-08T00:00:00Z “Past tense. Maybe I can make it present tense again.” Dry 2018-10-02T00:00:00Z After a long tense silence, the Dancing Trout owner dropped his eyes and said, “Why you, Bernie?” The Milagro Beanfield War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z There was no amplification, however, and many of the women were so tense and inexperienced at addressing a crowd that it was difficult to hear what they were saying. Votes for Women! 2018-02-13T00:00:00Z Moving with an unnatural, sinuous speed, he drew one hand back to the side of his head and tensed himself to spring. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z Anya tensed, certain the creature from the arena had followed them somehow, but the sound of whinnying replaced that fear with a new one. Anya and the Nightingale 2020-11-10T00:00:00Z Jack’s body tensed sharply as they entered the woods, and Hazel ignored it and moved on. Breadcrumbs 2011-09-27T00:00:00Z Sometimes he moves easily, caught up in the rush, and other times he’s tense and taut and wants Alex to work him loose and take him apart. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z Then the Labrador would sit apart, aloof and watchful, nervous and tense. The Incredible Journey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z His shoulders were tense, as if he expected a fight. The Last Olympian 2009-05-05T00:00:00Z Here, her body was tense, trying to avoid inching too close to Shae’s slumbering form. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z She tensed, her legs preparing to leap from the bed—perhaps toward the balcony, since Elena stood between her and the door. Throne of Glass 2012-08-07T00:00:00Z She sensed his nervousness in the tense set of his jaw as they approached Abba. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z She locked eyes with the angry but solid-looking Z. Everything inside her tensed as she flew over the space between the beam and the doorway. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z But when you’re reaching like that, straining for the ball, you start to tense up and then you can’t do anything with the ball even if you do get it. Slam! 1996-11-01T00:00:00Z He was tense, rushed, distracted, praying this job would pan out. Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z He was tense, possessed, fearful that if he slowed or paused he might lose the courage or the momentum he needed to get out. Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z Everyone in Black Valley tensed, like soldiers waiting for battle. Fannie Never Flinched 2016-11-21T00:00:00Z Mrs. Dalton’s voice came tense and faint and Bigger wondered how much more of this he could stand. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z I was a little tense, but the young white man’s manner put me at ease and I sat and held my hat in my hand. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z Uncle Jet said after many, many tense seconds. Healer of the Water Monster 2021-05-11T00:00:00Z Balancing the scales becomes more complicated as the tenses get more complicated. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z By Friday night, things were tense at dinner and Joaquin disappeared into his room without helping with the dishes. Far from the Tree 2017-10-03T00:00:00Z A couple of tense moments passed before he returned. Moon Over Manifest 2010-10-12T00:00:00Z “You saw his name on my letter,” I said, tensing up in my seat. From the Desk of Zoe Washington 2020-01-14T00:00:00Z Liam’s entire body tensed, as if he was expecting the same thing. The Darkest Minds 2012-12-18T00:00:00Z He just lay there, all tensed up, waiting for a fusillade of bullets to come buzzing through his windows. The Milagro Beanfield War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z With the doorknob jammed against the small of my back, I watch Joon return to his drawing, his neck so tense and tight the back of his head touches his shoulders. A Step from Heaven 2001-04-30T00:00:00Z When the Ghost and the Roach come in, a few tense minutes later, they find me sitting beside him, too tired to even think of moving his body. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z That night, after the dinner, I lay in bed, tense. The Joy Luck Club 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z The tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into a casual conversation; I guessed that Jasper was using his peculiar gift to control the situation. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z The skin on my neck crawled as I leaned forward into the damp dirt, hands pressed tightly against my ears, shoulders tensed to take the hit. The Darkest Minds 2012-12-18T00:00:00Z The next day, the crowds outside were even larger, the police more tense. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z The tense evening with Billy and Jacob seemed harmless enough now; I decided to forget it completely. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z As it happens, that place is the Temple of the Holy Grail, Montsalvat, and the atmosphere is tense and unresolved. The Story of Music 2012-12-25T00:00:00Z I dropped into my chair but stayed tense. The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates 2010-04-27T00:00:00Z I saw the thick muscles in his arm tense and relax as he made a gesture outside. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z His jaw is hard, his shoulders are tense. The Hate U Give 2017-02-28T00:00:00Z She tensed as a thought crossed her mind. Anya and the Nightingale 2020-11-10T00:00:00Z “Okay, then,” I said flippantly, trying to alleviate the suddenly tense atmosphere. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z Each time it came from the stern I tensed. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z The encounters were usually tense, with potential violence roiling just below the surface, but sometimes these confrontations were also tinged with comedy—as in the contest for seats in the council chambers. The Best of Enemies 1996-04-01T00:00:00Z The redheaded figure turned, “Feel funny inside. There’s a pounding in me with everything tense. It’s hard to breathe. I can’t stand still.” I, Robot 1950-12-02T00:00:00Z The houses were unmarked and sat in the rows of tense neighborhoods like uncracked knuckles. Everything Sad Is Untrue 2020-08-25T00:00:00Z The thing—it didn’t seem like a man at all anymore—tensed as if it was about to pounce. Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z After several tense days, the Polish government agrees to a compromise. The Boy Who Dared 2008-02-01T00:00:00Z I look down, and tense so hard I tremble. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z She searched the road, tensing, until she found where it was coming from. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z The present tense is moving forward, discarding concept after concept, and I am off to the side somewhere, fiddling with egg tempera and flat surfaces, as if the twentieth century has never happened. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z When you use a compound tense with has or have on the if side of the scale, you need a will have on the other side. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z At first glance, the conditions that govern sequences of tenses seem daunting. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z She could feel how tense he was, how close to blowing up. Pet 2019-09-10T00:00:00Z I live through a couple tense seconds before it turns the corner and I know if it's Kings or Stingers rolling by. How It Went Down 2014-10-21T00:00:00Z His jaws were the only tense part of his facial expression; everything else seemed calm. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z He still didn’t trust her to take care of him; she still seemed tense in his presence. Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West 2013-03-26T00:00:00Z Having opened the door to the last of the heirs, a tense and troubled Crow took her seat next to Otis Amber. The Westing Game 1979-01-01T00:00:00Z This is a game we play when we are tense and bored. My Side of the Mountain 1959-01-01T00:00:00Z I began slowly, but evidently my throat was tense, because they began shouting, "Louder! Louder!" Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z The rope tensed and lifted out of the water and wavered in the air. Life of Pi 2001-09-01T00:00:00Z Backing away, Luke and the doctor waited, tense and helpless. The Haunting of Hill House 1959-10-01T00:00:00Z Some shiny memory must be fighting for his attention, because his body tenses and his newly bandaged wrists strain against the metal cuffs. Mockingjay 2010-08-24T00:00:00Z He smiles a little, but the smile doesn’t spread to his eyes, which look tense and worried. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z While Ron kept watch he tugged and twisted, and at last, after several tense minutes, the paper came free. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets 1998-07-02T00:00:00Z Every muscle in my body tenses as I hurtle toward the ground. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z I felt the room go tense with anticipation. The Light in Hidden Places 2020-03-03T00:00:00Z On descending, I found the kitchen on the brink of pandemonium, and in general, an extremely tense atmosphere amongst all levels of staff. The Remains of the Day 1989-05-01T00:00:00Z Her body tensed as the vehicle rolled past them and parked alongside the fence. The Parker Inheritance 2018-03-27T00:00:00Z He had to fan on it blow on it He made the nest ready again, held the hatchet backward, tensed, and struck four quick blows. Hatchet 1987-01-01T00:00:00Z The rest of our companions watched with tense faces. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z At the same time I was worried about Mother Lois, who was becoming more tense with each day. Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z My body tensed as I caught a whiff of his sweet-smelling breath. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z When the main action in a sentence takes place in the present or in a future tense, the verb that follows after is in the simple present: I start dinner after the guests arrive. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z The farther they went, the brighter and noisier it became, and with every step Sefia felt Archer growing more and more tense beside her, until he seemed hard and brittle as glass. The Reader 2016-01-12T00:00:00Z “You need to let your hair down and relax. You’re way too tense.” The Red Umbrella 2010-04-25T00:00:00Z I could tell he saw right through me because he tensed back up again. The Science of Breakable Things 2018-03-06T00:00:00Z It had drawn nearer just like this, quivering with eagerness at the food Mercy set out, yet tensed to spring at the slightest warning. The Witch of Blackbird Pond 1958-12-01T00:00:00Z He hadn’t even been aware he was tense. The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm 1994-04-01T00:00:00Z “It’s different,” said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2005-07-16T00:00:00Z After a tense half hour or so he guessed the Farm Patrol had seen nothing. The House of the Scorpion 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z My muscles tense as they do before a kill. The Hunger Games 2008-09-14T00:00:00Z Matty dreamed of vague, frightening things connected to pain, and his body was tense even as he slept. Messenger 2004-04-26T00:00:00Z My body tenses as if a wire were running through it. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 2017-10-17T00:00:00Z I feel my whole body tense, the way I do before Mom or Sam hit me. Free Lunch 2019-09-10T00:00:00Z So had I. I tensed, ready to fight. Hollow City 2014-01-14T00:00:00Z Polly noticed that the slave breathed slowly and loudly, as if he was tense, but he made no attempt to stop the young man from hitting him. Copper Sun 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z He handed the teller the stick-up note, and then became so tense he passed out and woke up in custody. Hole in My Life 2002-03-26T00:00:00Z Travis visibly tensed up, but he kept reading, also ignoring them. The Serpent King 2016-03-08T00:00:00Z Not the tense one she’d worn for him, but one that seemed to be as bright as the sun. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z She remembered those rumors now, while she stood with her father and Maire Solanya in a tense silence, waiting as the sun set over the Wood. Ash 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z “So Marcus told you he was working under my orders,” she says, “and even knowing what you do about his rather tense relationship with both the Dauntless and the factionless, you believed him?” Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z As we drew closer, I tensed and squeezed my mother's hand hard. The Boy on the Wooden Box 2013-08-27T00:00:00Z Compounding the problem was the fact that throughout the tense meal, all around them people were gawking at the trio and whispering. The Best of Enemies 1996-04-01T00:00:00Z She wasn’t even a person anymore, just flesh rotting, but I loved her present tense. Looking for Alaska 2005-03-03T00:00:00Z “You used to?” said Harry, who had noticed the past tense. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2007-07-21T00:00:00Z I tense up but try not to show it on my face. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z I reached toward him, but he stepped back, tense, locked in his thoughts. The Book of Unknown Americans 2014-06-03T00:00:00Z So there I was a couple days later hanging with Fang, who, although obviously stoned, also seemed sort of tense, which was unusual. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet 2007-04-30T00:00:00Z I could feel the weak legs wrapped around my belly tense and tremble. Endangered 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z I think I did a great job editing, but I tense up, knowing that my part is coming up. Finding Junie Kim 2021-05-04T00:00:00Z Whenever things got tense, whenever there was a prospect for action, he’d do that snapping thing. The Things They Carried 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z I want to thank you very much for everything you have taught Oskar, particularly the conditional tense, which is weird. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 2005-04-01T00:00:00Z The actress and storyteller Awele Makeba transforms the auditorium into a packed city bus, the scene of a tense standoff between a determined black girl and several uniformed white men. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice 2009-01-20T00:00:00Z B.J. put down his book bag, slowly turned around, and tensed his short, wiry frame to face the much larger boy. Forged by Fire 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z Axel’s insides tense, like someone has flipped a switch from off to on in the worry part of his brain. A Bird Will Soar 2021-10-19T00:00:00Z After a bit of a tense silence, he inquired about my health, told me what he’d done while I was ill, and said nothing about what had just happened. The Secret History 1992-10-16T00:00:00Z An unnerving quiet had just infected the groups of kids standing nearest to us, and I felt my body tense even as I looked forward and stared at nothing. A Very Large Expanse of Sea 2018-10-16T00:00:00Z We went back to diagramming sentences, focusing on the imperfect tenses. The Wednesday Wars 2007-05-21T00:00:00Z He couldn’t figure out why Grandmother was acting so tense and serious about it. The Son of Neptune 2011-10-04T00:00:00Z I tense immediately, afraid that he’s going to name some crime of mine that went unacknowledged, or a confession that’s eating away at him, or something equally difficult. Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z Like Christmas Day, or how his body would tense wonderfully when Annie appeared in front of him. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z His eyebrows tense, and he looks over at me, trying to find a way in. I Am the Messenger 2002-01-10T00:00:00Z Men and women are seated in clusters throughout the space; many of them look tense, worried. The Sea in Winter 2021-01-05T00:00:00Z Every time she closed her eyes, something made her sway and lurch as if she were at the brink of a precipice, and she snapped awake, tense with fear. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z The panic was beginning to subside but she still felt tense. Gathering Blue 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z I tense as footage of my neighborhood, my home, is shown. The Hate U Give 2017-02-28T00:00:00Z He sat still, tense and fearful, trying not to let his fear show. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage 2017-10-19T00:00:00Z When he appeared at the door, he had that excited, tense look that meant a Narrow Squeak was on its way. Homesick 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z Sighs of relief and muted conversation replaced tense silence as the image began coming through. The Martian 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z Gollum sat with his legs drawn up, knees under chin, flat hands and feet splayed on the ground, his eyes closed; but he seemed tense, as if thinking or listening. The Two Towers 1954-11-11T00:00:00Z Peeta rubs a tense spot between my shoulders and I let myself relax a little. Catching Fire 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z Across the street a crowd of reporters, photographers and TV cameramen from all over the country watched the tense scene as they stood clustered behind a police barrier. Because They Marched 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z There’s a tense moment, but then the Roach cracks a grin. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z The soldier circled us, tense, his rifle aimed and his finger on its trigger. Hollow City 2014-01-14T00:00:00Z “My father,” he said, looking tense and bewildered. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z Her hands tense up, her fingers looking like talons. Free Lunch 2019-09-10T00:00:00Z The idea was that if you learned to land on tensed forearms and elbows, you wouldn’t hurt yourself—wouldn’t break a wrist, wouldn’t bang your nose on the floor, etc. Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z He would blink and reassure himself that it was only a product of his tensed mind. Redwall 1986-10-23T00:00:00Z Danny was tense and miserable all that day and throughout the week. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z I tensed, sure one of the soldiers would shoot him, but they let him continue. Prisoner B-3087 2013-03-01T00:00:00Z He lay tense and wakeful throughout the night. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z Lucinda and I wait in her room, listening at the door, tense with concentration. Before We Were Free 2002-08-13T00:00:00Z In this case Kathy was humming a tune she couldn’t even remember the name of, and Aisha was sitting, tense but accepting. Zeitoun 2009-07-15T00:00:00Z Outside the barn, Conger, Baker, Doherty, and the cavalrymen tensed for action. Chasing Lincoln's Killer 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z Sefia and Archer tensed, preparing to run, but nothing stirred inside. The Reader 2016-01-12T00:00:00Z Dived is the traditional past tense for what Esther Williams did off a diving board, though authorities now accept dove in all but formal writing. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z He’s got Renault there, pale and tense as if he’s facing a firing squad, and Janza, the animal, a chained animal waiting to spring loose. The Chocolate War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z He was tense with desire, but as long as he knew that Bessie was standing there in the room, he kept it from his mind. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z As the outside world grew more meaningful, I became more concerned, tense; and my classmates and my teachers would say: “Why do you ask so many questions?” Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z He touched her back, and she tensed at the roughness of his fingers. Forged by Fire 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z My dad’s jaw tensed and my mom shot back the last of her wine. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z He went past with his eyes closed and his mouth tense. A Separate Peace 1959-01-01T00:00:00Z “And why are you using the past tense?” Turtles All the Way Down 2017-10-10T00:00:00Z Her voice was tense and rising in pitch. When I Was Puerto Rican 1993-09-20T00:00:00Z The trips from school had become tense and frightening, and I just wanted to relax once I was safe inside my home. Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World 2013-10-08T00:00:00Z As clear as Milagro mud, he added in afterthought, and, despite the tense situation, Herbie almost caught himself in a ridiculous smile. The Milagro Beanfield War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z A tense peace lasted five weeks until an argument broke out between deputies and striking coal miners. Fannie Never Flinched 2016-11-21T00:00:00Z I could practically hear my sister’s low frequency scream of humiliation as she tensed every muscle. Everything Sad Is Untrue 2020-08-25T00:00:00Z I tense, waiting for her to strike back. The One and Only Ivan 2012-01-17T00:00:00Z The Abnegation, normally so placid, speak to one another in tense whispers and glare across the room at the faction that has become our enemy. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z Percy tensed, ready to charge forward, but Bob planted a hand on his shoulder. The House of Hades 2013-10-08T00:00:00Z At last he found what he wanted: a firm rock deep-anchored in the permafrost He backed against it, tensing his legs and choosing his moment. The Golden Compass 1995-07-01T00:00:00Z At the same time, my neck grows tense and I feel myself shrink, hunching my shoulders protectively, ready to let my arms fly up and protect my face from the Doctorita’s fists. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Our apartment is tense and silent, as if everything is holding its breath. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 2017-10-17T00:00:00Z She did not know whether he was using the past tense because his daughter no longer danced or because he no longer had a daughter, and she feared the answer. Breadcrumbs 2011-09-27T00:00:00Z Now my home life was completely taken over by the same tense fretting and worrying as my school life had been. Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z Shelly put an arm around her tense little shoulders and said, “Let’s hit the road, kiddo. Before your flaky brother gets any more bright ideas.” Flush 2005-09-13T00:00:00Z But it takes time to match every noun and verb, sort all the tenses, remember all the articles, set the tone for every s. Inside Out and Back Again 2011-03-22T00:00:00Z He looked at Ralph, his thin body tensed, his spear held as if he threatened him. Lord of the Flies 1954-09-17T00:00:00Z Startled out of my reverie, my body tensed, ready to bolt. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z If we used only one verb per sentence, we'd never have trouble choosing the tense—past, present, future, or whatever: They waltzed. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z She sat down on the bed and told me she was sorry that dinner had gotten a little tense. Flush 2005-09-13T00:00:00Z It was the kind of tense, held-breath expression designed to conceal some strong emotion, like anger, or revulsion, or even fear. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling 2011-01-25T00:00:00Z The way the men looked at her tensed Tayo’s hands into fists. Ceremony: 1977-03-01T00:00:00Z These soldiers all wore the same stern, tense expressions and handled their bayonetted rifles nervously, as if they were in the camp of the enemy. Dragonwings 1975-01-01T00:00:00Z Foot by foot, we pushed and pulled the wagon with Dragonwings up the hill, its wings dipping and bobbing as if it were tensing itself. Dragonwings 1975-01-01T00:00:00Z Neither of them kept the door from banging shut behind them, so both tensed for Grandma’s inevitable “Y’all know better than to be slamming doors in my house!” The Last Last-Day-of-Summer 2019-04-02T00:00:00Z His eye lit up when he described the Cyclopes’ forges and the palace of Poseidon, but he also told us how tense things were. The Battle of the Labyrinth 2008-05-06T00:00:00Z Edward still had his eyes closed, but he looked too tense to pass as asleep. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z And immediately he heard voices, excited, low, tense. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z The demons gathered into packs, tensing for a charge. City of the Plague God 2021-01-12T00:00:00Z It was a tense moment and, at the time, neither of us saw any irony in a prisoner asking not to be released and his jailer attempting to release him. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z I’m always extra tense until I hear the whine of the plane’s wheels coming down. Amina's Song 2021-03-09T00:00:00Z It’s better to understand a few principles that govern time, tense, and discourse than to try to memorize a list of regulations that are tailored to the sequence-of-tense phenomenon itself. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z Now a look of pure, unholy joy appeared in the black-currant eyes, and he tensed his stocky, close-knit body, timing his spring with a mastery born of long practice. The Incredible Journey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z Sefia tensed, remembering the sensation of his arms around her, his bare skin, his heart drumming frantically in his chest. The Reader 2016-01-12T00:00:00Z I felt Liam tense and stop, his hand tightening around mine until it hurt. The Darkest Minds 2012-12-18T00:00:00Z We would sit silent and tense, waiting for a bite, and it always amazed me how even a little nibble at the end of that long line would be transmitted to one’s fingers. Boy: Tales of a Childhood 1984-01-01T00:00:00Z Students scattered hurriedly away and campus police emerged from all directions, faces and bodies tensed for a fight. Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z I saw how his shoulders would predictably tense and curl inward like the hood on a cobra whenever anyone got to that point of having talked too much. 100 Sideways Miles 2014-09-02T00:00:00Z Some people tense up when one action comes after another in a sentence. Woe Is I 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Everything is quiet, tense, until Chantal changes the music and turns the volume up really loud. American Street 2017-02-14T00:00:00Z Something tensed in the back of my head; I got to my feet. Invisible Man 1952-01-01T00:00:00Z The tense effort to keep out of his consciousness the terrible sight of Bessie and the drone of the voices would not allow him to move a single muscle. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z I considered jumping over the side and following her, but then I tensed. The Titan's Curse 2007-05-11T00:00:00Z He was too tense to sleep, even if the telephone could be silenced—too fretful and frustrated. In Cold Blood 1966-01-01T00:00:00Z It struggled a moment and then held itself tense in her firm grip. Watership Down: A Novel 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z The emotional atmosphere in the cramped quarters became tense, ugly, petty, bickering. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z She tensed and turned to hide her face. Burning Blue 2012-10-25T00:00:00Z She envisioned the knifelike teeth and bottlebrush tail, the way each of its black claws had curled in the earth as it tensed. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z “I don’t think so. It doesn’t matter,” he said, after a long, tense pause. The Secret History 1992-10-16T00:00:00Z “If he wants to be the man of the house, he’s going to have to stop biting his nails,” Mami says, breaking the tense silence that follows such remarks. Before We Were Free 2002-08-13T00:00:00Z “Don’t use the past tense, honey. He is special.” Because of Mr. Terupt 2010-10-11T00:00:00Z “Well,” said Bunny chummily, his voice booming in the tense silence, “I’d apologize for dragging you away from your book if you hadn’t brought it with you. What you got there? Any good?” The Secret History 1992-10-16T00:00:00Z “I’m noting the present tense. Letters being letters.” Native Speaker 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z It was like his muscles tensed up, as if he had even more bones in his body than he started with. When I Was the Greatest 2014-01-07T00:00:00Z All night I lie awake with my body tensed, ready to leap up at the slight- est noise. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z He looked at Diana and gave her a tense smile. Time Bomb 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z My stomach tensed when I saw the choppers. Fallen Angels 1988-01-01T00:00:00Z Agnes noticed and the atmosphere in the shop went tense and dark, like before a scrap at school. Black Swan Green 2006-04-10T00:00:00Z She rubs my back and makes me relax when I’m tense and upset. Out of My Mind 2010-03-09T00:00:00Z These wives were so disagreeable and had made their men so tense that they were robbed of the satisfaction of being men. The Autobiography of Malcolm X 1965-01-01T00:00:00Z Aunty Uju was dampened only when her driver told her that The General’s wife had heard about the pregnancy and was furious; there had, apparently, been a tense family meeting with his relatives and hers. Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z They were tense, their faces peaked, their eyes narrowed. The Reader 2016-01-12T00:00:00Z She doesn’t respond and her body has tensed up. I'll Give You the Sun 2014-09-16T00:00:00Z Two, she has a place—however tense and tenuous at the moment—to live. Orphan Train 2013-04-02T00:00:00Z For nearly an hour the voices went on, the angry shouting gradually giving way to low tense words that could not be distinguished. The Witch of Blackbird Pond 1958-12-01T00:00:00Z So now they were ridiculously tense about it. Never Let Me Go 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z When a Stuka dived, it was impossible not to tense and shrink, though each time he thought he didn’t have the strength. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z He sensed the rapid flight of her hidden thoughts: the transitions showed on her frowning, tense face. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1968-01-02T00:00:00Z I tense up as if he’s looking at my sketches. I'll Give You the Sun 2014-09-16T00:00:00Z Things were tense at the house in Baton Rouge. Zeitoun 2009-07-15T00:00:00Z I was tense and ready to fight, but I didn’t see Golan. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z From there he watched Leader’s body tense, as if he were in pain. Messenger 2004-04-26T00:00:00Z Sticking to a consistent vantage point is the first step in getting the tenses in a complex story to come out right, but there’s more to it than that. The Sense of Style 2014-09-04T00:00:00Z He turned around, looking both tense and agitated, and pulled out the straight chair at his mother’s writing table and sat down. Franny and Zooey 1961-09-14T00:00:00Z Alec sucked in a short breath, and Mark sensed him tensing up. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin) 2012-08-14T00:00:00Z She turned away from the water, her face tense. Dactyl Hill Squad 2018-09-11T00:00:00Z Anya tensed up and slid the potion back into her pocket. Anya and the Nightingale 2020-11-10T00:00:00Z After a few tense minutes, I began the long, meticulous process of preparing and doping a set of blue emitters. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z Harry thought of Sirius, and the tight, tense knot in his chest seemed to ease slightly. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire 2000-07-08T00:00:00Z Sefia tensed and glanced at the mate, but his grim face was impassive. The Reader 2016-01-12T00:00:00Z They had always rippled and tensed, but now even lugging garbage cans was part of training, of getting into shape. The Contender 1967-01-01T00:00:00Z I was tense and anxious, uncertain of how I would react when the critical moment came. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z I arrived back at our own camp to find Rob, Dr. Caroline Mackenzie, and Scott Fischer’s doctor, Ingrid Hunt, engaged in a tense radio conversation with someone higher on the mountain. Into Thin Air 1996-08-01T00:00:00Z I shut my eyes and tensed my muscles against an urge to vomit. Kindred 1979-06-01T00:00:00Z Laura's voice is tense and bright like a newly sharpened knife that every time she speaks cuts a little sliver from her self-control. How the García Girls Lost Their Accents 1991-01-04T00:00:00Z Then, after a long, tense moment, Newt stood from his chair and walked over to the door, opened it. The Maze Runner 2009-10-06T00:00:00Z As I came downstairs I heard Mom’s voice, tense and upset. Tangerine 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z I crawl toward him and tense as I reach out to him. They Both Die at the End 2017-09-05T00:00:00Z My father’s voice was tense with anger now. Bless Me, Ultima 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z Moss could see her gripping the edge of the pulpit, her fingers tense and rigid, and he moved back to stand next to Javier. Anger Is a Gift 2018-05-22T00:00:00Z |
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英语例句辞典收录了117811条英语例句在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词及词组的例句翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。