How did you know vs how do you know

Question

I just wanna ask if this is correct:Conversation:Person 1: Your dad is a banker right?person 2: How did you know my dad was a pilot? OR How do you know my dad is a pilot?*My dad is still a bankerOr like:You have a blackberry right?How do you know I have a blackberry? OR How did you know I had a blackberry?*I still have a blackberryThanks in advance

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The first conversation makes no sense to me.

The second one is okay.

By comparison, "How do you know?" is more confrontational than "How did you know?"

"How did you know?" grants that the person's opinion is correct.
"How do you know?" seems to challenge that opinion.
It's similar to "What makes you think my dad is a banker?"

In the first conversation, I'd expect something like:

Your dad is a banker, right? (reply) I thought you knew my dad was a pilot!

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I just wanna 'wanna' is spoken English. Write 'want to' ask if this is correct:

Conversation:

Person 1: Your dad is a banker right?

person 2: How did you know my dad was a pilot? OR How do you know my dad is a pilot?

*My dad is still a banker

Or like:

You have a blackberry right?

How do you know I have a blackberry? OR How did you know I had a blackberry?

*I still have a blackberry

I see very little difference in your examples.

In some contexts, 'How do you know . . . ' can suggest that you may be mistaken. eg

A. Mary loves me.

B: How do you know she loves you? She has never even spoken to you.

Clive

Avangi · Answer

AnonymousHow do you know I have a blackberry? OR How did you know I had a blackberry?
*I still have a blackberry

Is your question about the tense of "have/had"? Sorry, I missed that.

Either one is okay. Using the past tense doesn't mean you no longer have it. "It's never incorrect to backshift!"

If you wish to emphasize that you still have it, use the present tense - even though you choose "How did you know etc."

Anonymous · Answer

so you mean, if i write ................

how did you know i HAD a blackberry? it means i still have a blackberry?
or is it better if i write,

how did you know i HAVE a blackberry?

Does had/have affect the meaning of the sentence?

Avangi · Answer

AnonymousDoes had/have affect the meaning of the sentence?

It can, in the case of indirect or reported speech or thought.
We understand that backshifting in itself doesn't effect the current truth of the facts described.
We generally rely on context to make those questions clear.

So if you wish to make it clear that you still have a Blackberry, and the context does not do it for you,
use "have." There's no rule that says you must backshift.

Anonymous · Answer

So basically if the context of what I'm saying conveys that I do have a blackberry, its fine if i use HAD and you would still know I have it? I mean its still grammatically correct to say.............

I didnt know you had a blackberry.

Anonymous · Answer

And I swear this is the last 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.

I owe you big time. xoxoxoxoxo

Avangi · Answer

AnonymousSo basically if the context of what I'm saying conveys that I do have a blackberry, its fine if i use HAD and you would still know I have it? I mean its still grammatically correct to say..

I didnt know you had a blackberry.

You have it right.

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

I consider this one incorrect because the use of "thought" implies that you no longer think it's true.

Backshifting is never incorrect.
Failure to backshift is incorrect only when the current truth of the facts is counterindicated.

How did you know vs how do you know

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