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Lllaw Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Correct tense after "I didn't know"?

Caffeine can trigger acid reflux.

I didn't know this fact.

When I combine these two sentences, which one should it be?
  1. I didn’t know caffeine could trigger acid reflux.
  2. I didn't know caffeine can trigger acid reflux.
I usually change present tense to past tense after I didn't know/ I thought, but in this case it's still a fact that caffeine can trigger acid reflux so I'm confused! Thanks!
  

Top answer

lllaw I usually change present tense to past tense after I didn't know/ I thought, but in this case it's still a fact that caffeine can trigger acid reflux so I'm confused! You may use either, but your usual choice is most everyone's usual choice.

— Mister Micawber

  • lllaw I usually change present tense to past tense after I didn't know/ I thought, but in this case it's still a fact that caffeine can trigger acid reflux so I'm confused!
  • You may use either, but your usual choice is most everyone's usual choice.
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2 Answers
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lllawI usually change present tense to past tense after I didn't know/ I thought, but in this case it's still a fact that caffeine can trigger acid reflux so I'm confused!
You may use either, but your usual choice is most everyone's usual choice.
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  1. I didn’t know caffeine could trigger acid reflux.
  2. I didn't know caffeine can trigger acid reflux.
You can use either one.
You could use either one.

Both are correct, but the first one is more common. It is similar to the back-shifting pattern in indirect speech.
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