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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
I had, I have, tense
I'd like to know which verb tense is correct: One minute ago, someone told me something that I have never heard of/ I had never heard of. i want to tell him that before he told me, I didn't know that. Should I say "I had never heard of that" or "I have never heard of that?
If the action of telling something took place yesterday, I understand that " I had never heard of that" is correct. But now the action has just taken place, it is still in the present time frame. Which tense is correct? Thanks a lot.
If the action of telling something took place yesterday, I understand that " I had never heard of that" is correct. But now the action has just taken place, it is still in the present time frame. Which tense is correct? Thanks a lot.
Top answer
Even just a minute ago, the telling is past, and you have now, as you speak, indeed heard of it. Therefore, use past perfect if the main clause is in the past However, if you are actually speaking to him at that moment, have is permissable and probably common; the conversation is not yet finished, you see-- you might change your mind as the conversation continues, and say something like ' oh yes, I have already heard of that after all' .
- Even just a minute ago, the telling is past, and you have now, as you speak, indeed heard of it.
- Therefore, use past perfect if the main clause is in the past However, if you are actually speaking to him at that moment, have is permissable and probably common; the conversation is not yet finished, you see-- you might change your mind as the conversation continues, and say something like ' oh yes, I have already heard of that after all' .
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1 Answers
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Even just a minute ago, the telling is past, and you have now, as you speak, indeed heard of it. Therefore, use past perfect if the main clause is in the past However, if you are actually speaking to him at that moment, have is permissable and probably common; the conversation is not yet finished, you see-- you might change your mind as the conversation continues, and say something
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