Tense problem.

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CalifJim

#427519 Fri, 05 Oct 07 06:45 PM

Neeraj Jain wrote:
Goodman wrote:
[
I was wondering what the difference was between a planet and a star. Past tense, ok

I was wondering what the difference is between a planet and a star. Present, ok

According to me, only the last sentence is ok. This is because the difference between a planet and a star does not change with passage of time. These are things of nature.

Backshifting (using was in this case) is always correct, even with generic or universal truths.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,794)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Difference Between, Tenses, Past Tenses

Yoong Liat

#427536 Fri, 05 Oct 07 07:13 PM

Neeraj Jain wrote:
Hi Yoong,

Thanks for the correction! Can you tell me how the sentence "I was wondering what the difference between a planet and a star was / is." is correct?

I was wondering what the difference between a planet and a star was.

I was wondering what the difference between a planet and a star is.

Jain wrote: According to me, only the last sentence is ok. This is because the difference between a planet and a star does not change with passage of time. These are things of nature.

I was wondering what the difference between a planet and a star was. ( The sentence is correct because the first verb is 'was', so it is correct to use 'was' after 'star'.)

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,100)

Yoong Liat

Verbs, Difference Between, Tenses

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