[was/is] not tall enough
(1) Last week, I tried to get a bottle of Coke on the top level of a shelf at ABC Supermarket. I was not tall enough to reach it.
(1) Last week, I tried to get a bottle of Coke on the top level of a shelf at ABC Supermarket. I am not tall enough to reach it.
Most of my non-native English speaking friends think (1) is correct. I should backshift the tense because your action was done in the past. However, my other friends think (2) is correct because you are STILL not tall enough to get it if it is on the top level.
Please help me. Thank you very much for your help.
Top answer
The first is correct. The second doesn't work. "I am not tall enough to reach it" would only work if you were talking about something you are trying to do now, or something that you habitually are unable to do.
- The first is correct.
- The second doesn't work.
- "I am not tall enough to reach it" would only work if you were talking about something you are trying to do now, or something that you habitually are unable to do.
- "Could you hand me a bottle of Coke from the top shelf?
- I'm not tall enough to reach it".
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The first is correct. The second doesn't work. "I am not tall enough to reach it" would only work if you were talking about something you are trying to do now, or something that you habitually are unable to do.
"Could you hand me a bottle of Coke from the top shelf? I'm not tall enough to reach it".
"It's hard for me to buy Coke at ABC Supermarket. They put it on the top shelf, an
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