0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Tense compatibility

In the sentence "I didn't know that he would go there", I think that the meaning is likely to be understood "he has gone" or "he went" or "he hasn't gone yet but he will", is that right?

And, in the sentence "I didn't know that you will go there", I think that the meaning is likely to be understood "he hasn't gone yet and he will go" only, is that right?
  

Top answer

I think all that is right because, when we use a past clause with the past tense, the fact in the clause is just in the past and we have no knowledge of the timing (so, as to the sentence "I didn't know that he would go there", maybe "he has gone" or "he went" before the time of speaking or "he is going" at the time of speaking or "he will go" after the time of speaking), and when we use a present/future clause with the past tense, we are sure of the timing and we know that the fact in the clause is in the past and in the present/future (so, as to the sentence "I didn't know that you will go there", it is likely that "he will go" after the time of speaking). Thank you.

— Anonymous

  • I think all that is right because, when we use a past clause with the past tense, the fact in the clause is just in the past and we have no knowledge of the timing (so, as to the sentence "I didn't know that he would go there", maybe "he has gone" or "he went" before the time of speaking or "he is going" at the time of speaking or "he will go" after the time of speaking), and when we use a present/future clause with the past tense, we are sure of the timing and we know that the fact in the clause is in the past and in the present/future (so, as to the sentence "I didn't know that you will go there", it is likely that "he will go" after the time of speaking).
  • Thank you.
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.

6 Answers
0
I think all that is right because, when we use a past clause with the past tense, the fact in the clause is just in the past and we have no knowledge of the timing (so, as to the sentence "I didn't know that he would go there", maybe "he has gone" or "he went" before the time of speaking or "he is going" at the time of speaking or "he will go" after the time of speaking), and when we use a present
0
0
Anonymous "I didn't know that he would go there",
Without any other information, I interpret it as:

He went some place, and that surprised me.

However, there can be other meanings in other contexts.
0
0
Anonymous(so, as to the sentence "I didn't know that he would go there"
This is fine.Look at it this way. If you went to a coworker's wedding last weekend and you saw Mary there, who previously told you that she probably couldn't make it for personal reasons. So you told John the next day " I didn't know (at the time that ) Mary wouldshow up ( a
0
0
AnonymousI didn't know that you will go there
No. Don't use 'will' in a that-clause after "I didn't know". 'would' is OK.

CJ
0
0
Thank you for all the replies. I see now that "would" should be used but "will" shouldn't here. Thank you.
0
0
I think we shouldn't prefer "will" here and "I didn't know that he would go there" is the right pattern because, if a verb is in the past tense, its clause should be used in the past pattern, no matter what the knowledge or meaning of the timing in clauses is. Thank you.
0

Related Questions