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Jack112 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Former

What do these sentences mean? Does it matter which one I use?
1. She is a former student.
2. She was a former student.

I did a google serach and I notice that 'was' had very little results and 'is' had tons.
  

Top answer

former is an adjective modifying student. she is a former student - this is her status now. She was a former student - but this isn't the case now.

— Nona the brit

  • former is an adjective modifying student.
  • she is a former student - this is her status now.
  • She was a former student - but this isn't the case now.
  • It is a bit confusing because former is already referring to a past state.
  • However if you said 'was' that would mean that somehow she has stopped being a former student.
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2 Answers
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former is an adjective modifying student.

she is a former student - this is her status now.

She was a former student - but this isn't the case now.

It is a bit confusing because former is already referring to a past state. However if you said 'was' that would mean that somehow she has stopped being a former student. Her former student status is also in the past. Perhaps
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This is another tricky topic.

It is fine to say:

Yesterday, I saw her in an evening gown and she was so beautiful.

This doesn't mean she is ugly today. The past tense 'was' here is used to imply my admiration of her beauty took place at that particular moment.

I could be wrong but that's my understanding. Sometimes, I find it hard to choose the right tense in c
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