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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Am/was

If I write the sentence I had no idea how perfect I was, that is the correct form, right? It is not correct to write I had no idea how perfect I am. But why exactly is that, or better, how do I explain this to someone who claims I had no idea how perfect I am is correct?

Thank you very much in advance.
  

Top answer

Both are correct. I had no idea how perfect I am emphasizes the idea that I think I am (still) perfect at the moment I make the statement. I had no idea how perfect I was can have the same meaning, but it can also mean I had no idea how perfect I was at that time (on that occasion in the past).

— CalifJim

  • Both are correct.
  • I had no idea how perfect I am emphasizes the idea that I think I am (still) perfect at the moment I make the statement.
  • I had no idea how perfect I was can have the same meaning, but it can also mean I had no idea how perfect I was at that time (on that occasion in the past).
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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Both are correct.

I had no idea how perfect I am emphasizes the idea that I think I am (still) perfect at the moment I make the statement.

I had no idea how perfect I was can have the same meaning, but it can also mean I had no idea how perfect I was at that time (on that occasion in the past).

CJ
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