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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
aren't vs. weren't in past tense
0 A friend and I have been arguing lately over the following: 02 br
02 br
00 "She explained that her friends weren't able to find employment in the US." 02 br
02 br
00 versus... 02 br
02 br
00 "She explained that her friends aren't able to find employment in the US." 02 br
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00 I am in favor of the former, and I believe I've seen past discussion about something similar ("I didn't know you have a kid" vs. "I didn't know you had a kid") on another forum; however, I didn't see a definitive response. 02 br
02 br
00 Thanks in advance, 02 br
02 br
00 Ed 0-
02 br
00 "She explained that her friends weren't able to find employment in the US." 02 br
02 br
00 versus... 02 br
02 br
00 "She explained that her friends aren't able to find employment in the US." 02 br
02 br
00 I am in favor of the former, and I believe I've seen past discussion about something similar ("I didn't know you have a kid" vs. "I didn't know you had a kid") on another forum; however, I didn't see a definitive response. 02 br
02 br
00 Thanks in advance, 02 br
02 br
00 Ed 0-
Top answer
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3 Answers
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0 Hi Ed, 02 br
02 br
00 To me, the first sentence says they tried, but they were unsuccessful. 02 br
02 br
00 The second says that are still trying, and to date they have not been successful. 0-
02 br
00 To me, the first sentence says they tried, but they were unsuccessful. 02 br
02 br
00 The second says that are still trying, and to date they have not been successful. 0-
00
0 Ed, 02 br
00 If you need a second opinion, I agree with GG. That's just how the two sentences read for me as well. 02 br
00 CJ 0-
00 If you need a second opinion, I agree with GG. That's just how the two sentences read for me as well. 02 br
00 CJ 0-
00
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