Tense Concord

Question

I was just wondering about tense concord. I believe [1], [3] and [4] stand, but [2] doesn't. Could you please help see this?

[1] I thought if it has eight legs, we didn't call it an insect; in fact, it is an insect.

[2] I thought if it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect; in fact, it is an insect.

[3] I thought if it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect, and I was right. It is not an insect.

[4] I thought if it has eight legs, we didn't call it an insect, and I was right. It is not an insect.

Hiro/ Sendai, Japan

HSS · Accepted Answer

Ooops, I omitted 'me.'

HSSCould you please help me see this?

CalifJim · Answer

[1] I thought if it has eight legs, we didn't call it an insect; in fact, it is an insect. No.

[2] I thought if it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect; in fact, it is an insect. Possible.

[3] I thought if it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect, and I was right. It is not an insect. Possible.

[4] I thought if it has eight legs, we didn't call it an insect, and I was right. It is not an insect. No.

think - has - do - is - will These go together.

thought - had - did - was - would These go together.

3. and 4. (below) don't follow this exactly, but are possible because the imbedded if statement is somewhat independent of the rest of what is being said.

These are all OK:

1. If it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect.
2. I think if it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect.

3. I thought if it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect.
4. I thought if it has eight legs, we don't call it an insect, and I was right.

5. If it had eight legs, we didn't call it an insect.

6. I thought if it had eight legs, we didn't call it an insect.
7. I thought if it had eight legs, we didn't call it an insect, and I was right.
8. If it had eight legs, we wouldn't call it an insect.
9. I thought if it had eight legs, we wouldn't call it an insect.
10. I thought if it had eight legs, we wouldn't call it an insect, and I was right.

You can add the material after the semi-colon or period to any of these 10. (; in fact, ..., etc.)

CJ

Tense Concord

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