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Jack112 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Knew / Know
Are these correct?
1. I know a teacher that biked back and forth to school in grade 7. (With 'grade 7' in here, do I need to shift 'know' to 'knew' ?)
2. I knew a teacher that biked back and forth to school in grade 7.
3. In grade 7, I knew a teacher that biked back and forth to school.
4. In grade 7, I know a teacher that biked back and forth to school. (Even thought I know this teacher, I'm talking about the past so I need to use 'knew' right?)
Thanks
1. I know a teacher that biked back and forth to school in grade 7. (With 'grade 7' in here, do I need to shift 'know' to 'knew' ?)
2. I knew a teacher that biked back and forth to school in grade 7.
3. In grade 7, I knew a teacher that biked back and forth to school.
4. In grade 7, I know a teacher that biked back and forth to school. (Even thought I know this teacher, I'm talking about the past so I need to use 'knew' right?)
Thanks
Top answer
3. (When I was) In grade 7, I knew a teacher that biked back and forth to school. I think this is the only correct one.
- 3.
- (When I was) In grade 7, I knew a teacher that biked back and forth to school.
- I think this is the only correct one.
- ).
- 4 is confusing.
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8 Answers
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3. (When I was) In grade 7, I knew a teacher that biked back and forth to school.
I think this is the only correct one.
1 and 2 may be understood as meaning that he didn't bike to school all the time, but only during grade 7 (and whose grade 7?).
4 is confusing.
I think this is the only correct one.
1 and 2 may be understood as meaning that he didn't bike to school all the time, but only during grade 7 (and whose grade 7?).
4 is confusing.
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1. is confusing. When I read your sentence, I understand it as "I know (now) a teacher who biked etc... when he was in grade 7.
Is that what you mean? Or is it more like "I know a teacher who biked ... when I was in grade 7" Or "... when he taught in grade 7"??
2. / 3. As Marcus says, who was/is in grade 7?
Is that what you mean? Or is it more like "I know a teacher who biked ... when I was in grade 7" Or "... when he taught in grade 7"??
2. / 3. As Marcus says, who was/is in grade 7?
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As a side note, Pieanne corrected this, but we use "who" for people - a teacher WHO biked.
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It's better to use "who" for people - when the relative pronoun is a subject - isn't it? "That" is OK for people when it's a complement, and then you can drop it. (I'm talking about defining relative clauses)
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Ugh. I always get in trouble when people start using terms like "defining relative clause" because I'm not very good at the proper names of things.
Do you mean things like "My daughter, who is in first grade, is very cute" versus "My daughter that is in first grade is very cute" to differentiate her my other daughter (who, uh, must look like a troll)?
Do you mean things like "My daughter, who is in first grade, is very cute" versus "My daughter that is in first grade is very cute" to differentiate her my other daughter (who, uh, must look like a troll)?
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With me, the "who/that" for people thing is probably one of those "rules" that you never should have learned, because they're wrong sometimes. I just try NOT to use "that" for people if "who" works just as well.
You are probably correct that when you need to use a restrictive clause (in this case to tell my first-grade daughter from my third-grade daughter), that "that" is a better choic
You are probably correct that when you need to use a restrictive clause (in this case to tell my first-grade daughter from my third-grade daughter), that "that" is a better choic
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<I just try NOT to use "that" for people if "who" works just as well. >
So do I
So do I
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