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Nerdikarp Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Can I replace "were" with "are" in this sentence. Would it change the meaning?
"I would sleep better at night knowing that the robbers were dead" versus "I would sleep better at night knowing the robbers are dead".
I have a few questions about the two sentences.
1. Can I replace "were" with "are"?
2. Does it change the meaning?
3. Is it more correct to have a comma before "knowing"?
I have a few questions about the two sentences.
1. Can I replace "were" with "are"?
2. Does it change the meaning?
3. Is it more correct to have a comma before "knowing"?
Top answer
I prefer your first sentence, keeping it within the normal tenses of conditional situations. If you used are dead, I think that the main verb should be will sleep. This puts both actions in the present/future category of conditional sentences.
- I prefer your first sentence, keeping it within the normal tenses of conditional situations.
- If you used are dead, I think that the main verb should be will sleep.
- This puts both actions in the present/future category of conditional sentences.
- The comma is optional; I wouldn't use it.
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1 Answers
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I prefer your first sentence, keeping it within the normal tenses of conditional situations. If you used are dead, I think that the main verb should be will sleep. This puts both actions in the present/future category of conditional sentences. The comma is optional; I wouldn't use it.
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