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PreciousJones Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Was/is

A friend walks by me and I say hello to him. He then walks away.

My mom asks:

Who was that guy? or should it be:

Who is that guy?

Please correct.
  

Top answer

Either would be fine.

— Ozzourti

  • Either would be fine.
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4 Answers
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Either would be fine.
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PreciousJonesA friend walks by me and I say hello to him. He then walks away. My mom asks:Who was that guy? or should it be:Who is that guy?Please correct.
Are you sure?
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Perhaps the past form would be more appropriate if he already was far away. But if he's still within eyeshot, I don't think there's that much of a difference.
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PreciousJonesA friend walks by me and I say hello to him. He then walks away. My mom asks:Who was that guy? or should it be:Who is that guy?Please correct.
The more natural question, to my ear, is, "Who was that guy?" (You mentioned that "He then walks away".) (It is not incorrect to say, "Who is that guy?". It's just not as natural to my ear.)

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