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Ceph Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Is/ Was

Hi may I know if this is grammatically correct?

I found a website that confirmed that it is beneficial to eat more spinach.

Shouldn't it be:

I found a website that confirmed that it was beneficial to eat more spinach.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

No, the original sentence is absolutely correct. Only if eating more spinach quit being beneficial would we use the linking verb was .

— Cynthia3754

  • No, the original sentence is absolutely correct.
  • Only if eating more spinach quit being beneficial would we use the linking verb was .
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6 Answers
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No, the original sentence is absolutely correct. Only if eating more spinach quit being beneficial would we use the linking verb was.
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Both forms are correct.

There is no need to backshift, but backshifting is rarely incorrect.
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fivejedjonBoth forms are correct.There is no need to backshift, but backshifting is rarely incorrect.
I wonder why someone 'disliked' that. If they think I am wrong, perhaps they could suggest why.
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Cynthia explained why it is less ambiguous to use present tense. I'll add that I was trained to use present tense when analyzing films in my college courses. The convention seems proper to me when referencing any kind of written work.
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VorparCynthia explained why it is less ambiguous to use present tense.
She didn't explain that. She said, "... the original sentence is absolutely correct". I agree.

She then said, "Only if eating more spinach quit being beneficial would we use the linking verb was". I do not agree. When we report something we have heard or read, we frequently
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I would like to add the following.

The teacher said, "The Earth is round."

In reported speech:

The teacher said that the Earth is round.
The teacher said that the Earth was round.
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