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He said the price was 10/he said the price is 10

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Latest post Sun, Feb 22 2009 2:52 PM by Clive. 3 replies.
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User_gary  +  675772 Thu, 19 Feb 09 12:16 PM
I remember the seller said the price was 10 for each item and 18 for two items.
I remember the seller said the price is 10 for each item and 20 for two items.

Please correct my sentences.
User_gary
Joined on Fri, Jan 5 2007
Senior Member 2,566
Honesty is the best policy
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Clive  +  675850 Thu, 19 Feb 09 02:31 PM
Hi,
I remember the seller said the price was 10 for each item and 18 for two items.
I remember the seller said the price is 10 for each item and 20 for two items.

I remember the seller said the price was $10 for one item and $18 for two.
I remember the seller said the price is $10 for one item and $20 for two.

#1 is OK.
#2 is OK if the seller said this 5 minutes ago, but not if he said it 50 years ago. In other words, it's OK if what he said is still true now.

Best wishes, Clive
Clive
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,622
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Related discussions
User_gary  +  678210 Sun, 22 Feb 09 07:25 AM
Thanks Clive.
I wonder then why people call this sentence "I couldn't get what you mean by this" is a wrong one? Here also it has the effect of present tense. I mean what I couldn't get before, is still I can't understand at that time of speaking this sentence.
User_gary
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Clive  +  678440 Sun, 22 Feb 09 02:52 PM
Hi,
I wonder then why people call this sentence "I couldn't get what you mean by this" is a wrong one? Here also it has the effect of present tense. I mean what I couldn't get before, is still I can't understand at that time of speaking this sentence

'I couldn't get . . . ' refers to the past.

To refer to the present, say 'I can't get . . . '

So, your example is like saying 'In the past I couldn't get what you mean right now'.  This is an awkward and illogical-sounding thing to say. It's much more natural just to say 'I can't get (right now) what you mean (right now)'.

Clive
Clive
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