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Powder1 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

is/was

Can this be said:

I was just wondering if you could tell me if a property is/was still available for lease?

Are both OK?
  

Top answer

Powder1 I was just wondering This is the past of politeness, so it still references present time. Powder1 if you could tell me This is "could" of politeness, so it still references present time. Powder1 if a property is/was still available for lease Because of the factors mentioned above, only "is" makes sense to me, but it would not be completely wrong to interpret this also as the past of politeness.

— CalifJim

  • Powder1 I was just wondering This is the past of politeness, so it still references present time.
  • Powder1 if you could tell me This is "could" of politeness, so it still references present time.
  • Powder1 if a property is/was still available for lease Because of the factors mentioned above, only "is" makes sense to me, but it would not be completely wrong to interpret this also as the past of politeness.
  • I'd go with "is".
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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Powder1I was just wondering
This is the past of politeness, so it still references present time.
Powder1if you could tell me
This is "could" of politeness, so it still references present time.
Powder1if a property is/was still available for lease
Because of the factors mentioned above, onl
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