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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

It was or it is?

Which is correct?

It was John Smith who referred me to your organisation.
or
It is John Smith who referred me to your organisation.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Anonymous Which is correct? It doesn't make any difference in a cleft construction like this. The typical word in such constructions is "is", but "was" is OK, too.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous Which is correct?
  • It doesn't make any difference in a cleft construction like this.
  • The typical word in such constructions is "is", but "was" is OK, too.
  • The "true" tense ( referred - past) is in the second part of the sentence.
  • I suppose you may as well use "was" since the rest of the sentence is in the past, but "is" is fine.
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3 Answers
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AnonymousWhich is correct?
It doesn't make any difference in a cleft construction like this. The typical word in such constructions is "is", but "was" is OK, too. The "true" tense (referred - past) is in the second part of the sentence. I suppose you may as well use "was" since the rest of the sentence is in the past, but "is" is fine.

CJ
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AnonymousIt is John Smith who referred me to your organisation.
Is John Smith still alive?
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Anonymous AnonymousIt is John Smith who referred me to your organisation.Is John Smith still alive?
It doesn't matter. It is Shakespeare who wrote Macbeth.

CJ
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