Sentence help

Both are correct, depending on the time frame: if the group previously included people on drugs, but doesn’t now – “included” would apply. If the group currently includes people on drugs, “includes” applies.

wilpeterBoth are correct, depending on the time frame:

Thank you very much. That was what I thought.

wilpeterif the group previously included people on drugs, but doesn’t now – “included” would apply. If the group currently includes people on drugs, “includes” applies.

Do you mean if the study group was in the past then ‘inc

That’s a good point. The group may well have been studied a week ago or two months ago, putting the group in the past. However, it they are likely to have ‘kicked the habit’ in the meantime (since that study), then they might no longer be on drugs and “were” could apply.

wilpeterthen they might no longer be on drugs and “were” could apply.

It sounds that it is mandatory to use ‘were’ with ‘included’. Don’t you agree?

Your original sentence was “includes or included” people; rather than “people that are on drugs “were included”. It would mean revising the whole sentence to accomplish using “are or were included”; however, the answer is ‘yes’ that if using the second phrasing, “were” must go with “included”.

wilpeter It would mean revising the whole sentence to accomplish using “are or were included”; however, the answer is ‘yes’ that if using the second phrasing, “were” must go with “included”.

I meant without revising the sentence. If ‘included’ were used, Wouldn't ‘were’ have to replace ‘are’? I think the same thing applies as you explained above.

AnonymousIf ‘included’ were used, Wouldn't ‘were’ have to replace ‘are’?

Yes. To recap, the original sentence was:
“We would have to focus on the fact that our study group ‘includes or included’ people that are on drugs.”

We agreed that either ‘includes’ or ‘included’ may be used (depending on the time frame of the study performed).

If th