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Which word is correct in this casual sentence, call or called?I forgot what you 'call or called' that.Are both possible, maybe?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousAre both possible, maybe?

Both are possible but different:

I forgot what you 'call' that.— 'You' more likely refers to no one in particular, meaning 'people', though it could also refer to the listener's repeated action.
I forgot what you 'called' that.— 'You' refers to the listener and 'called' to the listener's past action.

Deadrat · Answer

Sure.

A. You had a funny name for the macrobiotic food fad. I forget what you called that.
B. I called it the macropsychotic movement.

Here, the second person is determinate. A is talking to B specifically. "Called" is the simple past because A is trying to remember something.

A. There's a way to tell that all the galaxies are rushing away from us. I forget what you call that.
B. Red-shift.

Here, the second person is indeterminate. It means anybody who knows enough astronomy. "Call" is in the present tense to indicate the ongoing state of things -- it was called red-shift over a hundred years ago, it's called red-shift now, and it presumably will continue to be called by that name.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister Micawber AnonymousAre both possible, maybe?Both are possible but different:I forgot what you 'call' that.— 'You' more likely refers to no one in particular, meaning 'people', though it could also refer to the listener's repeated action.I forgot what you 'called' that.— 'You' refers to the listener and 'called' to the listener's past action.

Thanks, teacher. What I meant to ask is which of these sentences means that 'I don't remember what that thing is called. Does anyone of them convey the same message?

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousWhat I meant to ask is which of these sentences means that 'I don't remember what that thing is called. Does anyone of them convey the same message?

These:

I forget/forgot what you call that.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister Micawber AnonymousWhat I meant to ask is which of these sentences means that 'I don't remember what that thing is called. Does anyone of them convey the same message?These:I forget/forgot what you call that.

I see. Correct me if I am wrong, I feel the version with 'forget' is not possible as it is because it is missing something, a word, maybe. For example: I tend/always forget.... But not without an additional word or alteration to the sentence. Whereas, I feel the version with 'forgot' is correct as it is. Am I correct or am I missing something here?

It seems like the use of 'forget' does not imply the fact that I don't remember that thing. Do you get what I am trying to convey?

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousCorrect me if I am wrong, I feel the version with 'forget' is not possible

It is quite possible and probably more common in conversation than 'forgot'. It needs no other words for support.

Anonymous Do you get what I am trying to convey?

Yes. It is erroneous.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister Micawber AnonymousCorrect me if I am wrong, I feel the version with 'forget' is not possibleIt is quite possible and probably more common in conversation than 'forgot'. It needs no other words for support.Anonymous Do you get what I am trying to convey?Yes. It is erroneous.

I see. But I don't really get how that is possible, it just sounds wrong to my ear.

If someone says: do you know that answer to this question?
Reply would be: I forgot the answer.

If someone says: do you know the name of this disease?
Reply would be: I honestly forgot what it is called, or I forgot the name of this disease.

I don't see how 'forget' is possible in this responses, and I have not heard anyone use 'forget' in these examples. What do you think?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Anonymous, it just sounds wrong to my ear.

I'm sorry, but that is a common failing of learners.

Anonymous I have not heard anyone use 'forget'

Here are just a few of the many examples from COCA:

...Princess Leia, and I'm supposed to go,' Yes? Like I forget that's not my real name

...a bad game to go into because there's a wonderful quote - and I forget who said it - but it said that there's, you know, time

...I saw this, I guess, this banner ad. I think - I forget it was maybe on The New York Times or some website and it was a

...The Cave of Forgotten Dreams, " filmed by Werner Herzog, and I forget the name of the cave, but it's in France.

...Why am I here? " DAVID-GREENE: Oh ***? Oh man. I forget his name. JOHN-CHANESKI: Can you tell us who he was?

..." And why is that? " # " I forget, " Libby confessed. Then, as she moved the salt aside to make

...of his cheek, twisted it and winced. He waited. # " I forget how to start, " she whispered. # " Bless me, Father,

...since my last confession, " he prompted her again. " # " I forget. " # " OK, never mind. Tell me what you want to

...melancholy movie. I tell him I liked especially when the single man (I forget his name) tells a student: the only thing that's made the whole

...something we considered superfluous. # " You're doing... I'm sorry I forget - what are you doing at the magazine? " # " Design. "

Deadrat · Answer

The simple past -- I forgot -- tells of a completed action some time in the past.

A: Did you remember your wife's birthday this year?
B: Definitely. I forgot one year, and I swore I'd never do that again.

The simple present -- I forget -- is used to talk about an ongoing state of affairs -- I forgot something in the past, I haven't remembered it up to now, and if you don't tell me what it is, I won't remember it.

A: What's the tenth digit of pi?
B: I forget.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister MicawberHere are just a few of the many examples from COCA:

Thanks, teacher. I just did not know it could be used in that way and was surprised to hear that.

Would it also be correct to use 'forgot' in all of these examples?

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