Can't have to be replaced by couldn't?

'I just found out that I can't/couldn't renew my lease'-- grammatically, both are possible: 'can't' because the truth of the statement still holds at the present, and 'couldn't' because it otherwise normally retrogresses with the main verb, 'found'.

'Can't', I feel, would be far the commoner expression in both written and spoken English, because it is the present situation that obtains (

'Can't', I feel, would be far the commoner expression in both written and spoken English

Sorry, Mr. Micawber. I don't get this one. You mean 'would be the common expression', or what?

Anyway, I think the situation that the tense in the subordinating clause holds at the present is very common to see, if the mian verb is past tense. Sometimes I feel tire

It would be easier if you thought about what you have written before you post it, and be sure that you have expressed yourself as clearly as possible. This is not a chat room.

the subordinating clause is (was?) accordingly simple past present or past continuous present

-- what is this supposed to mean?

What I mean is that I think 'can' is commoner

the subordinating clause is (was?) accordingly simple past present or past continuous present...

what is this supposed to mean?

hehe I mean, I 've been told before that if the main clause is past tense, the subordinating clause is accordingly simple past present or past continuous present.

But I wanted to stress on the question that I

There is no such thing as 'simple past present', which is what I had hoped you would notice.

I gave you the rule in my first post--

'I just found out that I can't/couldn't renew my lease'-- grammatically, both are possible: 'can't' because the truth of the statement still holds at the present, and 'couldn't' because it otherwise normally retrogresses with the main verb,

I gave you the rule in my first post--

'I just found out that I can't/couldn't renew my lease'-- grammatically, both are possible: 'can't' because the truth of the statement still holds at the present, and 'couldn't' because it otherwise normally retrogresses with the main verb, 'found'.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As you describe it

You are choosing one interpretation; I have chosen two.

A little while ago, he went to the lease renewal office to renew his lease.
The clerk told him then that he couldn't/(can't) renew his lease.
He came back and reported to us: 'I just found out that I couldn't/can't renew my lease'.
He couldn't renew his lease then.
He still can't renew his lease.
Both expr

I'd like to make a small comment on one thing that MrM wrote:

'He said the earth is round' is more common than 'he said the earth was round'-- but that is only my opinion.

Actually, it is quite common in reported speech to use the past tense even when expressing facts that are either timeless (the earth being round) or that were true at the time of speaking and are still true

Mr M: You are choosing one interpretation; I have chosen two.

JTT: That's my point, Mr M. You have given an interpretation that, I'm afraid to say, just doesn't square with reality.

Mr M: A little while ago, he went to the lease renewal office to renew his lease.
The clerk told him then that he couldn't/(can't) renew his lease.
He came back and reported to us: 'I jus

Good point taiwandave. Native speakers are highly sensitive to these small differences. Context triggers whether the choice is for a reporting verb or a non reporting verb. Where context fails, we seek clarification but the very fact that millions of such situations pass us by with no need for clarification points up just how well language works.

I'm not picking on any one in particula