Present tense or past tense?

Question

Good evening.Which is correct: I was the former chairman. Or, I am the former chairman?Thank you very much.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

I am the former chairman.

It means that you used to be the chairman, but now you are not.

Drew.ward · Answer

daddyjohnGood evening.

Which is correct: I was the former chairman. Or, I am the former chairman?

Thank you very much.

I agree with Alphecca.

Both examples give the same information regarding that "I" was the chairman at one time and then wasn't.

"I am the former chairman" places this state in the present which conveys exactly the information that Alphecca has given.

"I was the former chairman" conveys similar information but leaves certain things unanswered. This one says that "I" used to be the chairman at some time in the past, and that THEN, at another time in the past that is still past, but closer to the future than the first time, that "I" was no longer the chairman. It however does not provide any information as to whether "I" is still the former chairman.

For all we know, he could be chairman again, or "former chairman" could be a special title that is only held for a limited period of time after someone else becomes chairman (and that that time has now expired so that "I" can't call himself "former chairman").

This is another one of those instances in which it's less about what information a verb form conveys as it is what information it does NOT convey.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much for your invaluable assistance, drew.ward and AlpheccaStars.

Present tense or past tense?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions