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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Use of tense

What is the difference between the use of 'is' and 'was' with (known) or other similar words, such as the following example:

This fact 'is' known to be true.
This fact 'was' known to be true.

Is the difference that with 'is' the sutuation is still valid whereas with 'was' it is no longer valid and in the past?
  

Top answer

"is known" means it is known now. "was known" means it was known in the past. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is not known now or not true now.

— GPY

  • "is known" means it is known now.
  • "was known" means it was known in the past.
  • It doesn't necessarily mean that it is not known now or not true now.
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7 Answers
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"is known" means it is known now.

"was known" means it was known in the past. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is not known now or not true now.
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GPY"is known" means it is known now."was known" means it was known in the past. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is not known now or not true now.
I see. Thanks for your help.

But can't ( is known) also mean or imply that it is true in the past and now as well, a general true statement?
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AnonymousBut can't ( is known) also mean or imply that it is true in the past and now as well, a general true statement?
No.
Consider the statement:

Pluto is known to have five moons.

Pluto was not discovered until 1930. Charon, the largest moon, wasn't discovered until 1978. Number 5 was discovered in 2012. At that time, this statement b
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AlpheccaStars AnonymousBut can't ( is known) also mean or imply that it is true in the past and now as well, a general true statement?No.Consider the statement:Pluto is known to have five moons.Pluto was not discovered until 1930. Charon, the largest wasn't discovered until 1978. Number 5 was discovered in 2012. At that time, this statement became true. But it may be inva
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If you don't have the context, you don't know how long such a statement would have been true. All you know is that as of the moment of speaking, it is true.
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AlpheccaStarsIf you don't have the context, you don't know how long such a statement would have been true. All you know is that as of the moment of speaking, it is true.
Yes, I can see that now. Thanks for showing me!
So what about 'was known', does imply a past true statement, basically Which is strictly related to the past?
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AnonymousSo what about 'was known', does imply a past true statement, basically Which is strictly related to the past?
It is a past true statement.
At the present time, it may still be true, or it may not be true, or it may be irrelevant.

1. Susan's body was found last Monday morning in Springdale Park. She had been murdered.
It was known th
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