Correct tense: [are/were] curling, hockey, basketball and football
I have made up the sentences below.
(1) The sports I have played are curling, hockey, football and basketball.
(2) The sports I have played BEFORE are curling, hockey, football and basketball.
(3) The sports I have played were curling, hockey, football and basketball.
(4) The sports I have played BEFORE were curling, hockey, football and basketball.
Most of my non-native English speaking friends think my sentences are all correct. I thought you had to use "were" for the sentences with "before" and "are" for the sentences without it.
Please help me. Thank you very much.
Top answer
I think that "are" is right, and "were" is wrong. When you say you "have played" them and then use "were", it is as if they are no longer sports you have played, which is nonsense. As for "before", it is implied in "have played", and it does not make any difference to the verb whether it is there or not.
- I think that "are" is right, and "were" is wrong.
- When you say you "have played" them and then use "were", it is as if they are no longer sports you have played, which is nonsense.
- As for "before", it is implied in "have played", and it does not make any difference to the verb whether it is there or not.
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I think that "are" is right, and "were" is wrong. When you say you "have played" them and then use "were", it is as if they are no longer sports you have played, which is nonsense. As for "before", it is implied in "have played", and it does not make any difference to the verb whether it is there or not.
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