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Harry1999 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

How can I make this sentence as per the "Tense Rule" for past tense?

The rule for past tense says "If the first part of the sentence is made in past tense then the remaining part must be of past tense", but we can use present tense in remaining sentence if it's a natural truth and for the remaining sentence starts with word "than".

e.g.
  1. Oh, I didn't know he was married. (Here as per rule, both the verbs are having past tense).
  2. I knew he wouldn't come.( know past tense knew and will past tense would).
Also as per this rule:
  1. Our father taught us that honesty is always the best policy.
Here, the sentence "honesty...." indicates a natural truth.

& also the rule includes the following structure:
  1. I helped you more than I helped my brother.
Here, the sentence is combined with "than".

My question is, Are the following sentences incorrect?
  • I thought You are angry with me.( I think the person is angry with me, but I thought... I know he or she is angry with me). In this sentence the second part is of Present tense, but rule says different.
The above sentence can also be written as,
  • I thought You would be angry with me. ( Here the sentence structure fits in the rule, but I would.. indicates probably the person is angry with me).
Some sentence below I am garbled with,
  • I thought you are upset.
  • I thought you are free.
  • I heard he is a fool guy.
Are these sentences correct? If not then How can make them correct?. If yes then How?
  

Top answer

( I think the person is angry with me, but I thought... I know he or she is angry with me). Incorrect I thought You would be angry with me.

  • ( I think the person is angry with me, but I thought...
  • I know he or she is angry with me).
  • Incorrect I thought You would be angry with me.
  • ( Here the sentence structure fits in the rule, but I would..
  • indicates probably the person is angry with me).
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3 Answers
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I thought You are angry with me.( I think the person is angry with me, but I thought... I know he or she is angry with me).

Incorrect

I thought You would be angry with me. ( Here the sentence structure fits in the rule, but I would.. indicates probably the person is angry with me).

Correct, though this sentence would be usually said because the person isn't angry.
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Hi,
The rule for past tense says "If the first part of the sentence is made in past tense then the remaining part must be of past tense",

Does this rule mean that you can't say eg If Tom passed the exam yesterday, I will give him $100 ?
If so, the rule is wrong.

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harry1999My question is, Are the following sentences incorrect?
No. When the main clause has knew, or thought, or a similar mental verb, the next clause is in the past.

I thought you were upset. NOT I thought you are upset.

I knew you were upset. NOT I knew you are upset.

I thought you would be an

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