0
PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

cell phone

Talking about getting a cell phone overseas.

I say to a cell phone store clerk in real time:

I didn't know I had to get the minutes seperately. And

I didn't know I have to get the minutes separately.

ARe both useable or is there one right answer only.

Thank you.
  

Top answer

PreciousJones ARe both useable or is there one right answer only. In my opinion there is only one right answer. I didn't know I had to get the minutes sep a rately.

— CalifJim

  • PreciousJones ARe both useable or is there one right answer only.
  • In my opinion there is only one right answer.
  • I didn't know I had to get the minutes sep a rately.
  • The same is true for "I knew", "I thought", "I didn't know", "I didn't think".
  • After these, use only past tense.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
PreciousJonesARe both useable or is there one right answer only.
In my opinion there is only one right answer.

I didn't know I had to get the minutes separately.

The same is true for "I knew", "I thought", "I didn't know", "I didn't think". After these, use only past tense.

CJ
0
0
CalifJim PreciousJonesARe both useable or is there one right answer only.In my opinion there is only one right answer.I didn't know I had to get the minutes separately.The same is true for "I knew", "I thought", "I didn't know", "I didn't think". After these, use only past tense.CJ
But nowadays, people are saying if the situation hasn't happened yet, then it's
0
0
PreciousJonesBut nowadays, people are saying if the situation hasn't happened yet, then it's okay to use the present tense instead of the past tense.
Well, I'm not one of those people in this case.
0
0
CalifJim PreciousJonesBut nowadays, people are saying if the situation hasn't happened yet, then it's okay to use the present tense instead of the past tense.Well, I'm not one of those people in this case. For those specific expressions I would always follow with a clause in the past tense.That business about "if the situation hasn't happened yet" is probably more appropr
0
0
PreciousJonesIs it absolutely wrong to use the present tense in this situation? "I didn't know I have to pay extra for the minutes."
Yes, in my opinion. Totally wrong. If you want to emphasize the futurity, however, you can use "would":

I didn't know I would have to pay extra for the minutes.

If it were me at the phone store, I'd use
0
0
CalifJim PreciousJonesIs it absolutely wrong to use the present tense in this situation? "I didn't know I have to pay extra for the minutes."Yes, in my opinion. Totally wrong. If you want to emphasize the futurity, however, you can use "would":I didn't know I would have to pay extra for the minutes.If it were me at the phone store, I'd use:I didn't know I had to pay extra
0
0
PreciousJonesAlso emphasize the future?
Not as much. It doesn't emphasize it. It just implies it.

CJ
0

Related Questions