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Ansonguy Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

[The first one] matched with [is/was]

I have written down the four examples below.

(1a) This white seashell is the first one I got in my large collection.

(1b) This white seashell was the first one I got in my large collection.

(2a) I can guarantee that all of my postage stamps are real. The first authenticated one I ever had is the red one here.

(2b) I can guarantee that all of my postage stamps are real. The first authenticated one I ever had was the red one here.

Which one is correct: is/was? Many thanks for your help and time.

  

Top answer

ansonguy (1a) This white seashell is the first one I got in my large collection. Fine. It will always be the first one, so it is now.

— Anonymous

  • ansonguy (1a) This white seashell is the first one I got in my large collection.
  • Fine.
  • It will always be the first one, so it is now.
  • ansonguy (1b) This white seashell was the first one I got in my large collection.
  • Fine.
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2 Answers
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ansonguy(1a) This white seashell is the first one I got in my large collection.

Fine. It will always be the first one, so it is now.

ansonguy(1b) This white seashell was the first one I got in my large collection.

Fine. "Got" means "acquired", and you acquired it in the past.

ansonguy(2a
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ansonguyis/was?

Both are possible. You can focus on the contents of your collection as it is now, or you can focus on your collection at the time you added something to it.

Personally, I'd just match the tense with other verbs in the sentence (got, had) and say was.

CJ

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