combination of tenses.

Question

Explain me that what you think about combination of tenses?

GPY · Accepted Answer

Can you be more specific? It is hard to know how to answer that question.

Anonymous · Answer

See<a href='http://www.EnglishForward.com/English/CombinationOfTenses/qcdln/post.htm' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'> this</a>.

GPY · Answer

I gather that you are asking about the sentence "Mr Mugabe has always said that the land seizures were needed to correct colonial imbalances and that beneficiaries would only get one farm."

I don't see any problem with it. Either "were" and "would" are referring to past events or they are backshifted reported speech.

CalifJim · Answer

SAAD HUSSAIN Explain me that what you think about the combination of tenses?

After verbs of reporting in the past tense (said that, reported that, claimed that, ...) and after many other past-tense verbs that are also used as introductory expressions (knew that, thought that), it is quite usual for all verbs that come later in the sentence to appear in tenses with a past point of view.

However, these past tenses do not necessarily express past time. The listener automatically adjusts the meaning to the time frame that was in effect at the time these things were actually said.

So, when you hear or read Jack said that he owned a house, you have to adjust your thinking to understand that it means Jack said this: I own a house. Similarly, the examples below labeled A have the meaning of B.

1A Mary claimed that she would be leaving for Paris on Monday.
1B Mary claimed this: I will be leaving for Paris on Monday.

2A The plumber said that he always charged $60 an hour.
2B The plumber said this: I always charge $60 an hour.

3A I must be mistaken because I thought that you had a son and a daughter.
3B I must be mistaken because I thought this: You have a son and a daughter.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

after verbs of reporting in the pastence are you sure

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous After verbs of reporting in the ~~pastence~~ past tense, are you sure?

I don't know who you are addressing this to, but I am quite sure of what I posted. The others will have to speak for themselves.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

hey calif
it seem that you know the grammar well.
would you like to share?
It would be beneficial .

Grammarfreak · Answer

Anonymous hey califit seem that you know the grammar well.would you like to share?It would be beneficial .

Knock knock, hello ! What do you think CJ has been doing here ? By the way, "beneficial" is learning to write with correct capitalization.

combination of tenses.

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