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New2grammar Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

tense switch

Is it fine to switch tenses from past tense to present tense in a single sentence?

1) He was looking at the news and he found out that Mary is still alive

2) He looked at the data and found out that the formation abnomalities are actually due to water pressure.

If the tenses are in past tense, what difference does that make?

Thanks
  

Top answer

1) Would not recommend the present (is), as we don't know if Mary's still alive, and even if that's true, it's not relevant to his findings at the time. 2). are works here, because it shows that the fact is still true today.

— Marius Hancu

  • 1) Would not recommend the present (is), as we don't know if Mary's still alive, and even if that's true, it's not relevant to his findings at the time.
  • 2).
  • are works here, because it shows that the fact is still true today.
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7 Answers
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1) Would not recommend the present (is), as we don't know if Mary's still alive, and even if that's true, it's not relevant to his findings at the time.

2). are works here, because it shows that the fact is still true today.
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It seems like it has to do with the information that you have at the time of writing. So, if I know Mary is still alive today, I can use is, right?

Also, is it fine for me to use werein the second sentence? I would want to make the verbs consistent in past tense even though I know that the fact still remains true (I might want to h
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1. OK, changed opinion, yes, you can use is if she's still alive. You could see the current situation as an extension of the past one (the news) and thus the relevancy exists.

2. Yes, you can use were in this one.
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explain very good~~thank you
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Is it fine to switch tenses from past tense to present tense in a single sentence?
Yes, of course, especially with expressions like found out.

I just found out that I'm allergic to peanut butter.

CJ
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CalifJim
Is it fine to switch tenses from past tense to present tense in a single sentence?
Yes, of course, especially with expressions like found out.

I just found out that I'm allergic to peanut butter.

CJ

In BrE, it would be I have just found out that I'm allergic to peanut butter.
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In BrE, it would be ...
Yes, I have heard that, but, to be honest, I'm not convinced that even the British consistently use only the perfect tenses with just. Maybe some of our British friends will comment.
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