were or are

Question

I am not sure when to use these words? When should I use the sentence with 'were' and 'are'?We were told to get out of the class.We are told to get out of the class.

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

Were you told in the past or are you regularly told this?

Anonymous · Answer

fivejedjonWere you told in the past or are you regularly told this?

I have't been told, I am just not sure when to use which. Do you mean that 'were' is for an event that is no longer relevant in the present and 'are' is still happening, may be!

Another example is:
Were are given a lot of homework for the weekend vs we were given a lot of homework for the weekend.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI have't been told

Then why does the sentence say, "We were told"?

Assuming no additional words to contradict it, the simple present of a dynamic verb (action verb, non-stative verb) normally indicates that, as things stand at the present time, the action is regularly repeated. We are told (always, every day, every week, again and again). The simple past, in contrast, normally indicates a one-time action in the past. We were told (once, last Saturday, yesterday).

The interpretations of the following pairs are exactly analogous to We are/were told:

They watch (movies); They watched (movies)
She takes (some books); She took (some books)
I am given (some money); I was given (some money)
Shells are found (on the seashore); Shells were found (on the seashore)

... and all other action verbs.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimThen why does the sentence say, "We were told"?

Thanks, CJ. Yes, I wrote it as an example just to ask about the difference.

CalifJimWe are told (always, every day, every week, again and again). The simple past, in contrast, normally indicates a one-time action in the past. We were told (once, last Saturday, yesterday).

So if it is a one time thing even just a few hours ago, I should use the past 'we were told', as in I just get out of a class and tell a friend we were told that we don't have class tomorrow. (and not the present 'are'). Am I correct?

CalifJimhey watch (movies); They watched (movies)She takes (some books); She took (some books)I am given (some money); I was given (some money)Shells are found (on the seashore); Shells were found (on the seashore)

For these examples with the present, they are repeatedly occurring and should not be used for a one-time action that has just happened. For example, 'they watch movies' means that they are watching movies on a regular bases and might do that again tomorrow, and 'I am given money' means that I am still many times even if it was yesterday but it is continuously occurring.

In short, do the present ones mean that the action is still valid or is a fact that holds true in the present?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousSo if it is a one time thing even just a few hours ago, I should use the past 'we were told', as in I just get out of a class and tell a friend we were told that we don't have class tomorrow. (and not the present 'are'). Am I correct?

Correct.

AnonymousFor these examples with the present, they are repeatedly occurring and should not be used for a one-time action that has just happened.

Correct. If it's just happened, you can use "just" to emphasize that, as you have done in your question. He just told me that ....

AnonymousFor example, 'they watch movies' means that they are watching movies on a regular basis and might do that again tomorrow,

Correct.

Anonymousand 'I am given money' means that I am still being given money many times

We are not certain that it is "many times", but anyway, more than once and probably at least several times, or at least enough times for the speaker to have noticed the pattern.

Anonymousdo the present ones mean that the action is still ~~valid~~ occurring or is a fact that holds true in the present?

Yes. That is the usual implication.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimYes. That is the usual implication.

Thank you for your help, CJ. I am glad I got that clarified.

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