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File tile 16 Posted 4 years ago
Grammar

Are these sentences right? / What's the difference?

Can I say:

I thought he is English but in fact he is from Wales.

And:

I thought he was English but in fact he was from Wales.


If the two sentences are correct, what's the difference?


Thank you in advance!


Veit

  

Top answer

file tile 16 I thought he is English but in fact he is from Wales. Not so much. "I thought" pretty much requires "he was".

— Anonymous

  • file tile 16 I thought he is English but in fact he is from Wales.
  • Not so much.
  • "I thought" pretty much requires "he was".
  • file tile 16 I thought he was English but in fact he was from Wales.
  • This is possible, with the second "was" being backshifting unless there is a reson for it, such as his being deceased or from long ago.
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1 Answers
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file tile 16I thought he is English but in fact he is from Wales.

Not so much. "I thought" pretty much requires "he was".

file tile 16I thought he was English but in fact he was from Wales.

This is possible, with the second "was" being backshifting unless there is a reson for it, such as his being deceased or from

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