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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

say

Which would be correct:

Tim (says/said) that suddenly the lights went on.

Tim (says/said) that other people came running to congratulate him.
  

Top answer

Hi, Tim (says/said) that suddenly the lights went on. Tim (says/said) that other people came running to congratulate him. Both says and said are correct.

— Clive

  • Hi, Tim (says/said) that suddenly the lights went on.
  • Tim (says/said) that other people came running to congratulate him.
  • Both says and said are correct.
  • says relates the statement to the present period.
  • said relates it to the past.
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5 Answers
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Hi,

Tim (says/said) that suddenly the lights went on.

Tim (says/said) that other people came running to congratulate him.

Both says and said are correct.

says relates the statement to the present period.

said
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"come running", what does it mean?
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So, why don't they use ran?
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AnonymousSo, why don't they use ran?
"Came running" is expressed from the referents (i.e. "his" above) point-of-view (POV) or location.

"Went running" is expressed from the runners' point-of-view or location.

"Ran to him" is neutral. Maybe from the observers' POV or location.
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