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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Tense shift in reported speech
This is specific to writing meeting minutes. I am trying to use simple past, but some statements are true in the present and will be true going forward. Here is an example:
"Mr. Smith noted that there is/was a requirement to maintain a fund balance." The requirement to maintain the fund balance is still true so is is to correct to use 'is'?
"Mr. Smith noted that there is/was a requirement to maintain a fund balance." The requirement to maintain the fund balance is still true so is is to correct to use 'is'?
Top answer
Both present and past tense are acceptable. I prefer the past tense - we don't know when the minutes will be read.
- Both present and past tense are acceptable.
- I prefer the past tense - we don't know when the minutes will be read.
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1 Answers
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Both present and past tense are acceptable. I prefer the past tense - we don't know when the minutes will be read.
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