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Pleasehelp Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Please help with sentence.

I didn't know I needed my passport to check in. Or

I didn't know I need my passport to check in.

Next time, we should definitely get a table. Or

We should definitely get a table next time.

Please help me decipher which sentence is correct and a reason why would be much appreciated.
  

Top answer

pleasehelp I didn't know I needed my passport to check in. Or I didn't know I need my passport to check in. " The whole sentence is backshifted, and "needed" has to match "didn't".

— Mr Wordy

  • pleasehelp I didn't know I needed my passport to check in.
  • Or I didn't know I need my passport to check in.
  • " The whole sentence is backshifted, and "needed" has to match "didn't".
  • " In practice you may sometimes hear native speakers using the second version, but to me it is inferior.
  • pleasehelp Next time, we should definitely get a table.
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1 Answers
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pleasehelpI didn't know I needed my passport to check in. Or

I didn't know I need my passport to check in.

It should be "I didn't know I needed my passport to check in." The whole sentence is backshifted, and "needed" has to match "didn't". The negative sentence seems a bit odd in the present tense, but compare "I know
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