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Rotter Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Iran is the most powerful nation in the world.

1b00Iran has been displaying its military power at a ceremony to mark the country's annual army day.02b02br
02br
00Speaking at the parade, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran was the most powerful nation in the world. 02br
00The country's strength was such that no major power would dare to challenge its security, he said. 02br
00Official media claimed the ceremony included the largest ever show of aerial strength, with a fly past by almost 200 aircraft. 02br
00There was also a huge military parade, with missiles displayed on trucks. 02br
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02br
00It is incorrect to write 'Iran was the most powerful nation in the world'..02br
00It should be 'Iran is the most powerful nation in the world'.02br
01b00What do you think?02b02br
00He didn't mince his words. He clearly said that Iran is the most powerful nation in the world. 0-
  

Top answer

0No, it's correct, this is the tradition in English in terms of tense sequence in reported speech. 02br 00Only when you 01b 00really02b 00 want to emphasize that the statement is still valid, would you use01b 00 is02b 00 there. 0-

— Marius Hancu

  • 0No, it's correct, this is the tradition in English in terms of tense sequence in reported speech.
  • 02br 00Only when you 01b 00really02b 00 want to emphasize that the statement is still valid, would you use01b 00 is02b 00 there.
  • 0-
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6 Answers
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0No, it's correct, this is the tradition in English in terms of tense sequence in reported speech. 02br
00Only when you 01b00really02b00 want to emphasize that the statement is still valid, would you use01b00 is02b00 there. 0-
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0Nothing personal, but if you ask for my opinion, "was" or "is", I think that is the biggest joke I heard for a while, aside from being an arrogant nonsense.02br
02br
01blockquote
01cite10Rotter12cite11b10Iran has been displaying its military power at a ceremony to mark the country's annual army day.12b12br
12b
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0I thank both Marius and Goodman for the reply.02br
00 Marius wrote the following:02br
00No, it's correct, this is the tradition in English in terms of tense sequence in reported speech. Only when you 01b00really02b00 want to emphasize that the statement is still valid, would you use01b00 is02b00 there. 02br
01fo
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0>01font00Yes, the situation is valid and you must write '01b00is'02b00 in the given context.02font02br
00No, you're 01b00not mandated02b00 to write 01b00is02b00. That's a 01b00choice02b00 that you make. 02br
02br
00I could give y
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0 Thanks Marius02br
02br
005. Peter loves Maria.02br
006. Peter said he loves Maria.02br
01b00The sixth sentence is the correct sentence.02b02br
007. Peter said he loved Maria.02br
01b00The seventh sentence is incorrect. 02b02br
01b01font00So in the above
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0Yes, any time you are doing reported speech, you can use the past version.02br
02br
00If you wish to truly emphasize how current the situation remains, you can use present as well, but only for reporting speech that is recent. You would not say "Back in 1988, Peter said that he loves Maria." You would also not use the present if you know the situation has changed since then.
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