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Findaway Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Was/is

As I entered the room, I noticed the fire exit door, which was close to the front entrance, was open.
Do I write 'which was close to the front entrance' or 'which is close to the front entrance'? I think 'was' implied the door is no longer close to the front entrance, which is incorrect because it is close to the front entrance and always will be. But 'is' sounds wrong.
  

Top answer

Here are a couple of improvements: As I entered the room, I noticed the fire exit door close to the front entrance was open. As I entered the room, I noticed the fire exit door, the one close to the front entrance, was open.

  • Here are a couple of improvements: As I entered the room, I noticed the fire exit door close to the front entrance was open.
  • As I entered the room, I noticed the fire exit door, the one close to the front entrance, was open.
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1 Answers
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Here are a couple of improvements:

As I entered the room, I noticed the fire exit door close to the front entrance was open. 
As I entered the room, I noticed the fire exit door, the one close to the front entrance, was open.

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