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Reegis Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
'I thought he was lying to me' vs 'I thought he lied to me'
Hello good people here,
this time, to add variety to my questions about articles, I would like to ask about these two sentences:
1) I thought he was lying to me.
2) I thought he lied to me.
What is the difference between then?
Is it that in 1) the person thought during the time when the other person was speaking?
While in 2) we have one person that says something, and only after that the other person is under impression that the first one has lied?
this time, to add variety to my questions about articles, I would like to ask about these two sentences:
1) I thought he was lying to me.
2) I thought he lied to me.
What is the difference between then?
Is it that in 1) the person thought during the time when the other person was speaking?
While in 2) we have one person that says something, and only after that the other person is under impression that the first one has lied?
Top answer
If we are talking about a single occasion, then I would reword the second sentence. The first is fine: I thought he was lying to me. (while he was speaking I thought this).
- If we are talking about a single occasion, then I would reword the second sentence.
- The first is fine: I thought he was lying to me.
- (while he was speaking I thought this).
- However, the second should be: I think he lied to me.
- (I now think that he lied in the past).
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4 Answers
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If we are talking about a single occasion, then I would reword the second sentence.
The first is fine: I thought he was lying to me. (while he was speaking I thought this).
However, the second should be: I think he lied to me. (I now think that he lied in the past).
If the second sentence is meant as written, it would mean that at some point in the past (I thought) I bel
The first is fine: I thought he was lying to me. (while he was speaking I thought this).
However, the second should be: I think he lied to me. (I now think that he lied in the past).
If the second sentence is meant as written, it would mean that at some point in the past (I thought) I bel
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I think it does:)
Just to make sure, based on your words let's make two sentences:
2a) I think he lied to me.
2b) I thought he had lied to me.
2a) is about one's current thinking about some previous event, and 2b) is about one's past thinking about some previous event (compared to the time of thinking).
Now, I have read that the Past Perfect time does no
Just to make sure, based on your words let's make two sentences:
2a) I think he lied to me.
2b) I thought he had lied to me.
2a) is about one's current thinking about some previous event, and 2b) is about one's past thinking about some previous event (compared to the time of thinking).
Now, I have read that the Past Perfect time does no
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Yes in both cases.
However, it is clearer to say "I thought that he had lied to me" if you want to indicate that you are talking about two past events, with the "lying" further back in time.
However, it is clearer to say "I thought that he had lied to me" if you want to indicate that you are talking about two past events, with the "lying" further back in time.
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