0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Is this sentence correct ?
Ok so today while I was attending my English class the teacher gave us an example, and that is :
I didn't know why he is leaving.
So I stood up and told her that the sentence should have looked like this:
I didn't know why he was leaving.
she told me that both sentences were correct and there were no grammatical mistakes
so the question is are the previous sentences both correct ? If not which one is the correct one ?
thanks in advance and sorry if there were any mistakes.
I didn't know why he is leaving.
So I stood up and told her that the sentence should have looked like this:
I didn't know why he was leaving.
she told me that both sentences were correct and there were no grammatical mistakes
so the question is are the previous sentences both correct ? If not which one is the correct one ?
thanks in advance and sorry if there were any mistakes.
Top answer
Both sentences are possible. These come to my mind: I didn't know (before you told me) why he is leaving (tomorrow). I didn't know (last week) why he was leaving (last week).
- Both sentences are possible.
- These come to my mind: I didn't know (before you told me) why he is leaving (tomorrow).
- I didn't know (last week) why he was leaving (last week).
- CB
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Both sentences are possible. These come to my mind:
I didn't know (before you told me) why he is leaving (tomorrow).
I didn't know (last week) why he was leaving (last week).
CB
I didn't know (before you told me) why he is leaving (tomorrow).
I didn't know (last week) why he was leaving (last week).
CB
00
Thanks for the fast reply 
But I have a question shouldn't the first sentence be phrased like :
I didn't know why he is goin
But I have a question shouldn't the first sentence be phrased like :
I didn't know why he is goin
00
Ahmed AlsmairBut I have a question shouldn't the first sentence be phrased like :I didn't know why he is going to leave tomorrowI didn't know why he will be leaving tomorrowOrI didn't know why he will leave tomorrowNo. It's correct English as it is. Of course more or less the same idea could be expressed in other wor
00
I didn't know (before you told me) why he is leaving (tomorrow).
I didn't know (last week) why he was leaving (last week).
I agree with CB that those rwo are possible. The following, with optional backshifting, is also possible:
I didn't know (before you told me) why he was leaving (tomorrow).
I didn't know (last week) why he was leaving (last week).
I agree with CB that those rwo are possible. The following, with optional backshifting, is also possible:
I didn't know (before you told me) why he was leaving (tomorrow).
0
Related Questions