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Dawa Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Can I mix different tenses in a sentence?

Which is the correct one between the two sentences below:

I found out that if the number is unique then ...
or
I found out that if the number was unique then ...

Here is what I'm trying to describe. I ran some software tests and I found out for a fact that when the number given is (was,were?) unique, then a special situation arises.

TIA
  

Top answer

Yes, you use the present to show the "continuing truth" of the situation, but the past to show that you have already learned it. I found out that if the number is unique, then ... is correct.

— BarbaraPA

  • Yes, you use the present to show the "continuing truth" of the situation, but the past to show that you have already learned it.
  • I found out that if the number is unique, then ...
  • is correct.
  • To my ears, if you say I found out that if the number was unique, then then whatever it was that was happening no longer IS happening.
  • I found out that in the 31-day months, if the number was greater than four, then the calculations for the totals were incorrect, but we have fixed that situation.
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2 Answers
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Yes, you use the present to show the "continuing truth" of the situation, but the past to show that you have already learned it.

I found out that if the number is unique, then ... is correct.

To my ears, if you say I found out that if the number was unique, then then whatever it was that was happening no longer IS happening.

I found out that in the 31-
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Thank you, Ms. Grammer Geek Emotion: smile
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