what I really want to pursue

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Once I found the Master Programme in Electrical Engineering, I know that this master programme is what I really want to pursue.
Could you give me a better expression instead of "what I really want to pursue"?

Thanks a lot.

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View best answer, chosen by jinmin1988

You need to correct a tense. Also you don't need to repetitiously write "this Master Programme".

Once I found [simple past] the Master Programme in Electrical Engineering, I knew [simple past] that it is what I really want to pursue.

Finally, what is a "Master Programme"? Did you mean a Master's degree programme? [Capital M, small d, small p]?

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@contrex,

Quote:

Finally, what is a "Master Programme"? Did you mean a Master's degree programme? [Capital M, small d, small p]?

Thank you, Contrex. yes, it does mean a Master's degree programme. should it be Capital M, small d, small p?

By the way, "I knew it is what I really want to pursue", some people told me it should be "was" instead of "is", but I still want to persue now, what's your opinion?

1 Reply

@jinmin1988,

If you want the present tense, then you should say you know what it is you want to pursue. I would also drop the word program. You want to pursue a master's degree. The program of study is the route to get there.

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@engineer,

Thank you, Engineer.
What you said is really important for me.

0 Replies

Engineer overlooked something. In the phrase "When I found... " the verb "found" is in the past tense. This requires the past tense to follow.

When I found the Master's degree program, I knew that it was the one that I wanted to pursue.

Past: When I saw the food, I was hungry.
Present: Now I see the food, I am hungry.
Future: When I see the food, I will be hungry.

2 Replies

@contrex,

Quote:

When I found the Master's degree program, I knew that it was the one that I wanted to pursue.

Does it mean i don't want to pursue now?

1 Reply

@jinmin1988,

Quote:

Does it mean i don't want to pursue now?

No. It does not imply that. The following things took place in the past.

You found the program. You knew [discovered, realised] something, that the program was the one for you.

The reader presumes that it is still the one for you, unless you now write something like "but now I have changed my mind".

1 Reply

@contrex,

Thank you very much, Contrex.

Quote:

Now that I've found the Master’s degree Programme in Electrical Engineering, I know it is the one that I want to pursue.

Quote:

When I found the Master’s degree Programme in International Electrical Engineering, I knew that it was the one that I wanted to pursue.

which one do you prefer?

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@jinmin1988,

Quote:

a better expression instead of "what I really want to pursue"?

a masters degree in electrical engineering turned me on

0 Replies

@jinmin1988,

(1)

If it happened since you last discussed your education plans with the listener, or very recently, (for example you are telling your teacher what you want to do next), or if you have not yet started the Master's program...

Quote:

Now that I've found the Master’s degree Programme in Electrical Engineering, I know it is the one that I want to pursue.

(2)

If it happened in the more distant past, or if you have started the Master's program...

Quote:

When I found the Master’s degree Programme in International Electrical Engineering, I knew that it was the one that I wanted to pursue.

1 Reply

@contrex,

Quote:

"When I found... " the verb "found" is in the past tense. This requires the past tense to follow.

When I found the Master's degree program, I knew that it was the one that I wanted to pursue.

Contrex, please stop filling ESLs head with nonsense about English. There is nothing in the English language that "requires" that we maintain the same tense throughout a sentence.

We certainly have the option to use a backshift as we report but as you've noted, it does not mean that the pursuing has ended.

When I found the Master's degree program, I knew, it is the one that I want to pursue.

This is certainly possible, in fact it happens all the time.

Jinmin, the normal neutral situation is to backshift. This is probably what has misled prescriptivists to think that language always works this way. This actually is a common theme for prescriptivists, a failure to look carefully at how language works.

0 Replies

Hi, JTT. I can't decide if it is autism or OCD that prompts you to invade threads in this way. Either way I was right to put you on 'ignore'.

1 Reply

@contrex,

Thank you, JTT&Contrex.

In my opinion, backshift is the grammar but maybe native speakers don't always follow their grammar. For example, I am a Chinese, but I never think about grammar when I am talking or writing. I just think if my writing is soomth and makes sense.

I hope that can explain your conflict.

0 Replies

@contrex,

You've tried those lame comments before, Contrex. Odd that you can never address the language issues, in which case one has to wonder, just what the hell you are doing offering advice on language.

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what I really want to pursue

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