Didnt know vs dont know

Question

Are these sentences right?:I didnt know we had a quiz tomorrow.or I didnt know we have a quiz tomorrow.Also I thought you guys were coming to my party tomorrow.or I thought you guys are coming to my party tomorrow.Thanks x

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I didn't know that we have a quiz tomorrow.

I thought you guys are coming to my party tomorrow.

indian

Avangi · Answer

I didnt know we had a quiz tomorrow.
or I didnt know we have a quiz tomorrow.

I thought you guys were coming to my party tomorrow.
or I thought you guys are coming to my party tomorrow.

I'd consider only the last one incorrect.
The use of "thought" implies that you no longer think it's true.

The first pair would both commonly be taken to imply that there is in fact a quiz tomorrow.
Backshifting is never incorrect, and doesn't affect the present truth or falsity of the facts referred to.

Anonymous · Answer

AvangiI thought you guys were coming to my party tomorrow.
or I thought you guys are coming to my party tomorrow.

Both these two are wrong? The thought I want to imply is like when a person tells you she can go to the party, and your confirming again. Im not sure how is the right way to explain it, but I hope u get the picture.

Avangi · Answer

“I thought you guys were coming to my party tomorrow.
or I thought you guys are coming to my party tomorrow.”

Hmmm, where did I say that I believe both these two are wrong?

I believe only the second one is wrong,
because the choice of the past tense "thought" in this case implies that you no longer think that it's true.

Sorry that my language was not clear.

like when a person tells you she can go to the party, and your confirming again.

This thought would need to be expressed in a different way!

I'm glad to hear you guys are coming to my party tomorrow!

Anonymous · Answer

Thankyoou. I just like get confused w backshifting

Anonymous · Answer

Avangi I thought you guys are coming to my party tomorrow.”

is it because i used ARE in this sentence not WERE? Because that is the only difference. thankuuu

Avangi · Answer

The problem is "thought."

Sorry. I thought you were the milkman!

It means you made a mistake. You no longer think it.

It's possible to use "thought" to describe your situation, but it's very complicated, and it's not what you mean to say.

A: Jack tells me you're not coming tomorrow. What happened? I thought you were coming!

B: What do you mean? Jack's crazy! Of course I'm coming tomorrow!

A: Oh, good! I'm glad! I thought you were coming.

In most normal situations, when you say "I thought X," it implies that you no longer think X.
In that case, you MUST backshift: I thought you were coming. (But now I know you're not.)

I thought you are coming would never be used in any possible situation which I can think of.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much. I now get it completely.

Yay!

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousAre these sentences right?:I didnt know we had a quiz tomorrow.or I didnt know we have a quiz tomorrow.Also I thought you guys were coming to my party tomorrow.or I thought you guys are coming to my party tomorrow.Thanks x

Recommendation:

Save yourself from "analysis paralysis". After "knew", "didn't know", "thought", and "didn't think", always use only the past (or equivalent). It will always be correct.

I [knew / thought] (that) Fred [went / had gone / would go].
I didn't [know / think] (that) Sally [wanted / had wanted / would want] to do it that way.

CJ

Didnt know vs dont know

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