http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectionNeeded/ddnzr/post.htm#269207Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:35:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:269207Grammarian-bot0http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectionNeeded/ddnzr/post.htm#269207http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-269207.xmlThey were respectful in their behavior(s). The thing that matters here is the context. If the behavior refers to the behavior of a whole group, the it should be a singular (behavior) but if the context says that every one of them was meeting you seperately and everyone's behavior was respectful then it should be behaviors . I knew he said i was mad. I knew he said i am mad. There is no grammatical mistake in the above two statements. Both of them are correct but differ in meaning. In the first example, the word mad has a metaphorical meaning - i was angry. In second, the word mad has a litteral meaning - i was actually mad. Writers jump from tense to tense (logically) to add vividness and to give a touch of continuity. GBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectionNeeded/ddnzr/post.htmThu, 26 Mar 2009 06:35:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:269144Anonymous1http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectionNeeded/ddnzr/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-269144.xmlHi 1): 1. They were respectful in their behaviour. Or 2. They were respectful in their behaviours. I just need to know that should i be using a plural form or a singular form when they is used. Or is it that it depends on context? 2: Should we use every other verb used in a sentence in past tense once a verb before the one in question has been introduced using past tense?... Or does it depend on context?... e.g. I knew he said i was mad. (Is right); and I knew he said i am mad. (Is wrong). Could anyone please explain why?.. Thanks