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JungKim Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
I was told when I get/got older all my fears would shrink
It's from these song lyrics (link):
I wish I found some better sounds no one's ever heard,
I wish I had a better voice that sang some better words,
I wish I found some chords in an order that is new,
I wish I didn't have to rhyme every time I sang,
I was told when I get older all my fears would shrink,
But now I'm insecure and I care what people think.
...
I think that in this context this means:
I was told, "When you get older all your fears will shrink."
Right?
If so, shouldn't it be:
I was told when I got older all my fears would shrink
Is there any reason for going with "get" here instead of "got"?
I wish I found some better sounds no one's ever heard,
I wish I had a better voice that sang some better words,
I wish I found some chords in an order that is new,
I wish I didn't have to rhyme every time I sang,
I was told when I get older all my fears would shrink,
But now I'm insecure and I care what people think.
...
I think that in this context this means:
I was told, "When you get older all your fears will shrink."
Right?
If so, shouldn't it be:
I was told when I got older all my fears would shrink
Is there any reason for going with "get" here instead of "got"?
Top answer
JungKim Is there any reason for going with "get" here instead of "got"? It's the choice of the lyricist.
- JungKim Is there any reason for going with "get" here instead of "got"?
- It's the choice of the lyricist.
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9 Answers
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JungKimIs there any reason for going with "get" here instead of "got"?It's the choice of the lyricist.
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AlpheccaStarsIt's the choice of the lyricist.Do you mean that the choice is possible only because it's a lyric, and that the choice would not be possible in everyday English?
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JungKimDo you mean that the choice is possible only because it's a lyric, and that the choice would not be possible in everyday English?No. Either one is OK.
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So why do you think it's possible to not "backshift" the tense of the verb "get" in this case?
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JungKimSo why do you think it's possible to not "backshift" the tense of the verb "get" in this case?Because I am a native speaker and I use ether one. Back-shifting is sometimes mandated, and sometimes not.
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JungKimshouldn't it be:I was told when I got older all my fears would shrinkThat's what I would have said, but then not everyone speaks English exactly the same way, so variants will exist.
CJ
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Let me ask this.
Is "get" instead of "got" possible because in context "I" am now that "older" age?
Is "get" instead of "got" possible because in context "I" am now that "older" age?
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Suppose I have a 14-year old boy.
Yesterday my sister told him that when he gets old enough to drive, she would buy him a car.
Yesterday my sister told him that when he got old enough to drive, she would buy him a car.
Either one is OK to me. I would be even less likely to back-shift the alternative version with "be:"
Yesterday my sister told him that when he is old en
Yesterday my sister told him that when he gets old enough to drive, she would buy him a car.
Yesterday my sister told him that when he got old enough to drive, she would buy him a car.
Either one is OK to me. I would be even less likely to back-shift the alternative version with "be:"
Yesterday my sister told him that when he is old en
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AlpheccaStarsSuppose I have a 14-year old boy. Yesterday my sister told him that when he gets old enough to drive, she would buy him a car.Yesterday my sister told him that when he got old enough to drive, she would buy him a car.Either one is OK to me.Isn't that because "yesterday" is not so far away from the time of speaking?
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