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Tashiro Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Past form vs present form
Hi, teachers. Please help me.
"The girl that Bob said he saw me with ( ) my sister."
My textbook says was has to be put in parentheses. Why not is but was?
"The girl that Bob said he saw me with ( ) my sister."
My textbook says was has to be put in parentheses. Why not is but was?
Top answer
Your textbook should say that 'was' is the more natural answer (the verb regresses with the perspective of the rest of the sentence), but 'is' is not wrong, since she remains your sister at the time of the statement.
- Your textbook should say that 'was' is the more natural answer (the verb regresses with the perspective of the rest of the sentence), but 'is' is not wrong, since she remains your sister at the time of the statement.
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5 Answers
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Your textbook should say that 'was' is the more natural answer (the verb regresses with the perspective of the rest of the sentence), but 'is' is not wrong, since she remains your sister at the time of the statement.
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Thank you for the reply.
One more question. In the following sentences, 'was' is more natural in the same meaning? Or the meanings are different?
"What ( ) the reason you came here?"
"There ( ) a strong possibility that pious Buddhists still survived here."
One more question. In the following sentences, 'was' is more natural in the same meaning? Or the meanings are different?
"What ( ) the reason you came here?"
"There ( ) a strong possibility that pious Buddhists still survived here."
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"What was/is the reason you came here?"-- Probably both with the same intent, though 'was' would be used if another reason for coming has emerged in the meantime.
"There was/is a strong possibility that pious Buddhists still survived here.-- 'Was' only if the possibility no longer exists, 'is' only if it does.
"There was/is a strong possibility that pious Buddhists still survived here.-- 'Was' only if the possibility no longer exists, 'is' only if it does.
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because this action of Bob which he encounterd seems to be in the past that is why sould be followed by past with the modal auxilary was(taken for singular as your sister was ).........
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