0
Taka Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Tense
That scientist found that the earth revolves around the sun.
Grammar books say that because the earth revolving around the sun is the truth, the tense in that-clause here is the present even though the whole sentence is about the past event.
Does that mean if it is the truth, it have to be the present? How does this sound?
That scientist found that the earth revolved around the sun.
Grammar books say that because the earth revolving around the sun is the truth, the tense in that-clause here is the present even though the whole sentence is about the past event.
Does that mean if it is the truth, it have to be the present? How does this sound?
That scientist found that the earth revolved around the sun.
Top answer
That scientist found that the Earth revolves around the Sun. This is referring to the time in the past - 'found' - when this 'timeless' truth - "the Earth revolves around the Sun" - was first discovered. That scientist found that the Earth revolved around the sun.
- That scientist found that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
- This is referring to the time in the past - 'found' - when this 'timeless' truth - "the Earth revolves around the Sun" - was first discovered.
- That scientist found that the Earth revolved around the sun.
- Referring to the scientist's discovery, as in That scientist found that the Earth revolved around the sun.
- When he asserted this publicly, the Church regarded it as blasphemy, and he was brought to trial.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
That scientist found that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
This is referring to the time in the past - 'found' - when this 'timeless' truth - "the Earth revolves around the Sun" - was first discovered.
That scientist found that the Earth revolved around the sun.
Referring to the scientist's discovery, as in
T
This is referring to the time in the past - 'found' - when this 'timeless' truth - "the Earth revolves around the Sun" - was first discovered.
That scientist found that the Earth revolved around the sun.
Referring to the scientist's discovery, as in
T
00
TakaThat scientist found that the earth revolves around the sun.The earth revolves around the sun is a statement that we accept as true. It is used as an object in the sentence as a "universal truth."
For example, "a stove can be hot" is true.
A year ago the cat jumped up on the stove and discovered that the stove can be hot.
00
TakaDoes that mean if it is the truth, itNo! It is always correct to backshift.havehas to be the present?
TakaHow does this sound?That scientist found that the earth revolved around the sun.It sounds lovely. Don't worry. Both versions are fine.
______________
Note that the "truth" is wi
00
Related Questions