Forums » ESL, Rules of English Grammar, Help and Games » ESL General English Grammar Questions » 1: Didn't you know that I was just that kind of person?

1: Didn't you know that I was just that kind of person?
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Jackson6612  #374526  Sun, 03 Jun 07 07:31 PM

Do the following sentences mean the same thing?

1: Didn't you know that I was just that kind of person?

2: Didn't you know that I was just that way?
  
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Doll  #374528  Sun, 03 Jun 07 07:38 PM
I couldn't find any mistake.Smile [:)]
  
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Jackson6612  #374537  Sun, 03 Jun 07 08:02 PM

 Doll wrote:
I couldn't find any mistake.Smile [:)]

Hi Doll,

But do they mean the same thing?
  
Doll  #374540  Sun, 03 Jun 07 08:04 PM
hmmmmm.I cant be sure for this. Second one may mean other kind of things too.
  
CalifJim  #374633  Mon, 04 Jun 07 01:09 AM
They are more or less synonymous when speaking of a person's character traits, but not if it refers to a physical disability, for example.

Suppose someone was born with six fingers on each hand.  Suppose we express surprise.  That person might wonder why we hadn't noticed before and say:

Didn't you know that I was just that way?

But that person would never answer:

Didn't you know that I was just that kind of person?

because this situation has nothing to do with having the character traits of a certain kind of person.

CJ
  
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Jackson6612  #375077  Mon, 04 Jun 07 09:53 PM
 Jackson6612 wrote:

Do the following sentences mean the same thing?

1: Didn't you know that I was just that kind of person?

2: Didn't you know that I was just that way?

Couldn't am be used in place of was in the above sentences?
  
Doll  #375079  Mon, 04 Jun 07 09:55 PM
If you force the situation why not. Smile [:)]
  
Jackson6612  #375096  Mon, 04 Jun 07 10:39 PM

 Doll wrote:
If you force the situation why not. Smile [:)]

Hi Doll,

I'm not forcing the situation.Smile [:)] Is it correct to use am in place of was in those sentences above?
  
Doll  #375097  Mon, 04 Jun 07 10:42 PM

If you change the sentences in present tense, they won't be wrong in a proper context.
  
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