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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
"Aristotle believed that nature was/is perfect"
Hello everyone!
This has been on my mind for a while now - hopefully someone can clear it up for me.
"Aristotle believed that nature was/is perfect"
"Both theories stated that all species were/are unchanging and perfectly adapted"
In the sentences above, which tense is correct? For the first one, "was" sounds correct, and for the second one, "are" sounds right.
This has been on my mind for a while now - hopefully someone can clear it up for me.
"Aristotle believed that nature was/is perfect"
"Both theories stated that all species were/are unchanging and perfectly adapted"
In the sentences above, which tense is correct? For the first one, "was" sounds correct, and for the second one, "are" sounds right.
Top answer
As nobody has replied I'll have a stab at it. " To my mind this implies that he believed that nature was perfect in the past. " To my mind this implies that he belived that nature was perfect at the time and will always be so.
- As nobody has replied I'll have a stab at it.
- " To my mind this implies that he believed that nature was perfect in the past.
- " To my mind this implies that he belived that nature was perfect at the time and will always be so.
- CM.
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2 Answers
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As nobody has replied I'll have a stab at it.
"Aristotle believed that nature was perfect." To my mind this implies that he believed that nature was perfect in the past.
"Aristotle believed that nature is perfect." To my mind this implies that he belived that nature was perfect at the time and will always be so.
CM.
"Aristotle believed that nature was perfect." To my mind this implies that he believed that nature was perfect in the past.
"Aristotle believed that nature is perfect." To my mind this implies that he belived that nature was perfect at the time and will always be so.
CM.
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The use of the backshift is always correct!
You may construct the sentence without the backshift if the unshifted part expresses a proposition which is true for all time (but you don't have to).
There is no difference in meaning between the two.
Short answer: Both are correct (for both sentences). Use the ones that sound right to you.
You may construct the sentence without the backshift if the unshifted part expresses a proposition which is true for all time (but you don't have to).
There is no difference in meaning between the two.
Short answer: Both are correct (for both sentences). Use the ones that sound right to you.
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