I always thought......

Question

1. I always thought she was a nun.2. I've always thought she was a nun.3. I always thought she is a nun.Please I need to know if these sentences are correct . I also need someone to explain other variants of them, if any , to me.

Laborious · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1. I always thought she was a nun. (This one is correct if you no longer think and if she's no longer a nun.)

2. I've always thought she was a nun. (This is correct if your thinking that way still continues, i.e., you still think. Also, here she is no longer a nun, but you perception continues.)

3. I always thought she is a nun. (I don't think it is natural. You should keep both the tenses in the past, I think.)

________

Just a learner. And please be patient if you don't find this helpful, because the teachers will be coming soon.

CalifJim · Answer

TOMB1. I always thought she was a nun.2. I've always thought she was a nun.3. I always thought she is a nun.Please I need to know if these sentences are correct . I also need someone to explain other variants of them, if any , to me.

1 and 2 are both idiomatic, though 2 is usually the more appropriate tense with "always".
3 is not idiomatic. It doesn't follow the correct sequence of tenses.

You have already asked nearly the same question within the last few hours. You don't seem very convinced that you need the past tense after "thought that", "knew that", "believed that", "said that", and so on.

Remember: It doesn't matter if the situation in the content clause is still true. The listener will adjust to what you say and will automatically receive the correct message, even when the content clause is in the past tense.

CJ

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