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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Did not know that you speak/spoke ...

Hi!
I have a question.
Do you say: I did not know that you speak Spanish
or is it: I did not know that you spoke Spanish.
Thanks for your help,
Pedro
  

Top answer

I did not know that you spoke Spanish.

— LouiseT

  • I did not know that you spoke Spanish.
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3 Answers
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I did not know that you spoke Spanish.
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Both are fine, Pedro. You may regress the dependent verb with the main verb, as Louise has suggested, or since the person presumably still speaks Spanish, you may keep it in the present tense.
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Either one, but I prefer "speak", if you learn (realise) that soon after. If you are telling the person later, at a different time, then "spoke" might be better (as you're referring specifically to the past).
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