0
Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Tense

Hello,

I have two sentences: I thought this politician would talk about corruption and how it 'was/is' ruining our lives. (which tense is accurate here - is or was?)

b) Again, regarding tense in conditional: If you were to argue that capitalism 'is/was' all about freedom, then I would have to argue against it. (again, is or was?)

Thanks,
  

Top answer

a) I have two sentences: I thought this politician would talk about corruption and how it 'was/is' ruining our lives. ) b) Again, regarding tense in conditional: If you were to argue that capitalism 'is/was' all about freedom, then I would have to argue against it. -- This is a more interesting question.

— Mister Micawber

  • a) I have two sentences: I thought this politician would talk about corruption and how it 'was/is' ruining our lives.
  • ) b) Again, regarding tense in conditional: If you were to argue that capitalism 'is/was' all about freedom, then I would have to argue against it.
  • -- This is a more interesting question.
  • )
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
a) I have two sentences: I thought this politician would talk about corruption and how it 'was/is' ruining our lives. (which tense is accurate here - is or was?--Both are fine if corruption is still rampant now...which of course it is.)

b) Again, regarding tense in conditional: If you were to argue that capitalism 'is/was' all about freedom, then I would have to argue against it.
0
0
Thanks, MR. M. I thought of another sentence which has the same confusion. Could you kindly let me know whether my reasoning is correct?

In past: Paul preached that Jesus would save people if they believed in him
Let's say St. Paul is preaching now in the present: Paul preaches that Jesus will save people if they believe in him. (or) Paul preaches that Jesus would save people if they
0
0
Let's say St. Paul is preaching now in the present: Paul preaches that Jesus would save people if they believed in him.
Yes, it is conditional, but not an 'exception'-- it is a different use of the verb forms to express less confidence.
0
0
Sorry, I don't get it. It is an exception in that 'preaches' is always followed by 'will' except in cases where it is conditional, in which case it is followed by would.
0
0
That should not be considered as any kind of 'exception'. The conditionals are a major syntactic structure in their own right.
0

Related Questions