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Hans51 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
"I thought the earth is round ."
I have learned that we can say,
"His theory showed that the earth is round.", because of an exception of tense agreement,
but I also have learned that we cannot say,
"I thought you don't like it." because it is against the tense agreement rule.
And then, if we mix the sentences to one sentence, which one is correct?
1) "I thought the earth is round ."
2) "I thought the earth was round."
2.1) "I already thought the earth was round at that time as well."
Thank you so much as usual and have a good and safe day.
"His theory showed that the earth is round.", because of an exception of tense agreement,
but I also have learned that we cannot say,
"I thought you don't like it." because it is against the tense agreement rule.
And then, if we mix the sentences to one sentence, which one is correct?
1) "I thought the earth is round ."
2) "I thought the earth was round."
2.1) "I already thought the earth was round at that time as well."
Thank you so much as usual and have a good and safe day.
Top answer
If the situation reported is still true at the time of reporting, there is no need to backshift, though we commonly do. If the situation reported is not still true, then we backshift. Many people though the earth was flat.
- If the situation reported is still true at the time of reporting, there is no need to backshift, though we commonly do.
- If the situation reported is not still true, then we backshift.
- Many people though the earth was flat.
- Eratosthenes said that the earth was/is round.
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4 Answers
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If the situation reported is still true at the time of reporting, there is no need to backshift, though we commonly do. If the situation reported is not still true, then we backshift.
Many people though the earth was flat.
Eratosthenes said that the earth was/is round.
Many people though the earth was flat.
Eratosthenes said that the earth was/is round.
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Thank you so much and could you tell me which one is natural to you?
1) I already thought that the earth moves around the Sun.
2) I already thought that the earth moved around the Sun.
1) I already thought that the earth moves around the Sun.
2) I already thought that the earth moved around the Sun.
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Hans51Thank you so much and could you tell me which one is natural to you?1) I already thought that the earth moves around the Sun.2) I already thought that the earth moved around the Sun.Both are possible.
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Thank you so much and the meanings are also considered to be the same, right?
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