Do I have to put the second part of a sentence into past tense when talking about things that will never change? I'm kind of lost here :/

Question

I knew something like that existed./ I knew something like that exists.Did you tell them you are from the U.S.? / Did you tell them you were from the U.S.?

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

If you can say you are from the U S even today, then are is fine there.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous Do I have to put the second part of a sentence into past tense when talking about things that will never change?

That is customary. I recommend it. It is very authentic English to do it like that.

I knew something like that existed. / Did you tell them you were from the U.S.?

'thought', 'knew', 'said', and 'told' are the most common verbs that occur in this pattern. They typically force a past tense in the following clause, and it's not worth the mental effort to try to invent a reason why the present might be used instead.

I knew he was from Spain.
I thought she had a brother.
I told you that Luke was dead.
I thought you liked chocolate.
I knew that Susan's sister lived in France.

CJ

Do I have to put the second part of a sentence into past tense when talking about things that will never change? I'm kind of lost here :/

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