A: How was the appointment?
B: Oh, good. My doctor says that everything is good. Thank God.
A: I’m sorry.
B: That’s okay. ‘Cause I bet my doctor is way cuter than your doctor.
A: Marley! Please tell me you’re not flirting with your doctor.
B: So what if I am?
A: Never mind.
Question: I don’t understand why A asked the question with past tense, and B answered it with present tense. So they are not talking about the time she went to the appointment?
Thank you!!!
The appointment is in the past, therefore the past tense. The doctor’s statement refers to her current condition, meaning she is healthy right now. If the doctor’s statement was in the past tense, it would imply she was in good health previously, but the appointment revealed a medical problem.
How was the (doctor’s) appointment?
Oh, (the appointment was) good.
Since the appointment was in the recent past, she could have said, “My doctor said that everything was okay.” But since there’s no reason for her to believe that her condition has changed in the short period of time since the appointment, she can just as easily say (in a more general sense), “My doctor says that everything is good.”
My question would be: Why did her friend say, “I’m sorry” in response? I would have to watch the movie to understand why her friend said, “I’m sorry” after she said “everything is good.”
I’m sorry. My bad. I re-watched the movie, and their conversation would be like this:
Marley: How was the appointment?
Marley’s sister: Oh, good. My doctor says that everything is good. Thank God. I’m sorry.
Marley: That’s okay. ‘Cause I bet my doctor is way cuter than your doctor.
Marley’s sister: Marley! Please tell me you’re not flirting with your doctor.
Marley: So what if I am?
Marley’s sister: Never mind.
Does it make sense then?
Not really. The “I’m sorry” still doesn’t seem to fit the conversation. I’d have to see the movie to understand what’s going on.
Actually, Marley has cancer.
I guess that’s why her sister said, “I’m sorry” after she said “everything is good.”
Oh, ok, that’s makes a little more sense.
I’ve said this before, but you will make yourself go crazy questioning every little detail you don’t quite understand in English. There are too many. These questions you have will be answered by yourself in time
Sometimes, in certain contexts and when spoken in a certain tone, “I’m sorry” can mean “What did you just say?” (as if expressing surprise or shock at what the other person just said).
