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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
No need to back-shift?
Hi. Please help. I think if we are talking or writing about something that is still valid or is what we call "eternal truth" (I think that is what we call), we don't need to back-shift the tense even though the context is in the past. (I hope what I said was said to reflect correctly what I had wanted to say - not sure, though.) Are these correct? Thank you for your help in advance.
1. They were sad because they are enough many philantropists in town. -- There still aren't enough philantropists in town at the time of writing the sentence.
2. They said there are not enough philantropists in town. -- Ditto.
3. They did not realize there are so many philantropists in town. -- Again, the fact that there are still are so many philantropists in town and that fact is still valid.
1. They were sad because they are enough many philantropists in town. -- There still aren't enough philantropists in town at the time of writing the sentence.
2. They said there are not enough philantropists in town. -- Ditto.
3. They did not realize there are so many philantropists in town. -- Again, the fact that there are still are so many philantropists in town and that fact is still valid.
Top answer
The use of tenses in these situations is tricky. I would suggest these, adding information if necessary for total comprehension. 1 - They were sad because there weren't enough philanthropists in town.
- The use of tenses in these situations is tricky.
- I would suggest these, adding information if necessary for total comprehension.
- 1 - They were sad because there weren't enough philanthropists in town.
- 2 - Correct as written, except for philanthropists spelling.
- 3 - They did not realize that there were/are so....
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1 Answers
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The use of tenses in these situations is tricky. I would suggest these, adding information if necessary for total comprehension.
1 - They were sad because there weren't enough philanthropists in town.
2 - Correct as written, except for philanthropists spelling.
3 - They did not realize that there were/are so....
1 - They were sad because there weren't enough philanthropists in town.
2 - Correct as written, except for philanthropists spelling.
3 - They did not realize that there were/are so....
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