Is this a case of tense agreement or not?

Question

(1) What did Buddha know? He said that he now understood that suffering and death are part of life.
(2) What did Buddha know? He said that he now understood that suffering and death were part of life.

Which sentence sounds more correct?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

The now makes are more reasonable to me, but I think it can still be regressed to were without suffering.

Pandoraa · Answer

I believe the second one is correct grammatically ( reported spech and tense agreement) and also for a better time expression I'd replace now with then.

Hope this helps..

Teleostomi · Answer

Thanks both of you.

Rainy days and sunny days, you're always with us, MM.

Anonymous · Answer

SSeSecond sentence sounds correct.

Teleostomi · Answer

Even if it's a universally accepted truth, can we make it a reported speech? Like the following:

Columbus said that the Sun rose in the east.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Yes.  It's the other way 'round, Teleostomi:  the regressed verb of reported speech is always correct, but for 'universal truths' you have the additional option of keeping the verb in the present.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Okay, now I am confused.

He said that he now understood that suffering and death are part of life.

Why isn't this: He said that he now understands that suffering and death are part of life ?

Or: He finally understood that... Or: He had reached the understanding that...

Is "understood" a way of saying "achieved the status of understanding"?

I'm having a hard time with now and understood and are all being together. I would write "he understands."

Is this a case of tense agreement or not?

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