[Grammar] Why is/was there no one to take this trash away?

[sitifan]

When the president walks into his office, he sees there is trash scattered about the room. He is very angry. Which of the following sentences will he say?
1. Why is there no one to take this trash away?
2. Why was there no one to take this trash away?

 

[GoesStation]

Number one if he's thinking about the present. Number two if he's thinking about the past.

He'd really say something like "Why hasn't anyone cleaned up in here?"

 

[tedmc]

How about: "Why is this place in a mess?"

 

[emsr2d2]

It's more natural to say "Why hasn't anyone taken away this trash?" (It would be "rubbish" in BrE.)