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Laborious Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

correct

Hi teaches, 

Could you please check my understanding of the following sentence? 

- I used to believe that girls have a heart, but it is not so with you; because you're heartless. 

Should there be 'had' in place of 'have', because I no longer think that way? 

Thank you. 
  

Top answer

Laborious Should there be 'had' in place of 'have', You can use either.. The change to the past is not because you have changed your mind, but because it is a form of indirect speech. As you know, back-shifting in indirect speech can be tricky.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Laborious Should there be 'had' in place of 'have', You can use either..
  • The change to the past is not because you have changed your mind, but because it is a form of indirect speech.
  • As you know, back-shifting in indirect speech can be tricky.
  • I always believed that girls had a heart, and you have reinforced it.
  • I always believed that girls had a heart, but you are the exception that broke the rule.
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2 Answers
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LaboriousShould there be 'had' in place of 'have',
You can use either..
The change to the past is not because you have changed your mind, but because it is a form of indirect speech.
As you know, back-shifting in indirect speech can be tricky.

I always believed that girls had a heart, and you have reinforced it.
I always believed that girl
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"had" reads better. It should be "girls had hearts" though (only one heart per girl). The end of the sentence doesn't read very well to me. I would try "but it is not so with you: you're heartless". A dash could also be used.
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