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Pleasehelp Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Past tense?
I thought you said their weren't a lot of expats in Japan? Or
I thought you said there aren't a lot of expats in Japan?
Are both ok to use?
I thought you said there aren't a lot of expats in Japan?
Are both ok to use?
Top answer
The first is fine and so is the second provided that that sentence still holds true.
- The first is fine and so is the second provided that that sentence still holds true.
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4 Answers
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The first is fine and so is the second provided that that sentence still holds true.
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Yes I know but there are exceptions to every rule in English. I asked this question a couple of months ago and basically that's what I was told then.
BTW, not everyone will agree with me on this one.
BTW, not everyone will agree with me on this one.
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Yes, this can be very confusing.
Sue told me that she was sick.= She is no longer sick./ She is still sick. By following the rule ("told" is past, so I must use "was"), the sentence is ambiguous.
If Sue is still ill, common sense would surely call for: Sue told me that she IS sick.
Sue told me that she was sick.= She is no longer sick./ She is still sick. By following the rule ("told" is past, so I must use "was"), the sentence is ambiguous.
If Sue is still ill, common sense would surely call for: Sue told me that she IS sick.
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