Which tense is correct? “Bob wanted to know if he is/was a father”
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Bob wants to know if he is a father or not. A day later, Bob learns that he's a father. Then three years passes.
Now which of the following is correct and why?
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not.
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not.
Any help is appreciated! But I would greatly appreciate an explanation with your answer. Thank you!
verbs tenses backshifting
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
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bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 4 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Bob wants to know if he is a father or not. A day later, Bob learns that he's a father. Then three years passes.
Now which of the following is correct and why?
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not.
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not.
Any help is appreciated! But I would greatly appreciate an explanation with your answer. Thank you!
verbs tenses backshifting
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
High
192
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 4 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
"Then three years passes." should be "Then three years pass.", because years is plural.
– Javatasse
Jul 30 at 0:49
Definitely "was". Because the time at which he wanted to know his paternity/fatherhood was in the past. So "was". And sorry, but I couldn't resist: youtu.be/vt2i0ts-uck?t=2s
– Zebrafish
Jul 30 at 0:59
1
@Javatasse Three years, like ten dollars, can be considered as a single unit, and as such can take a singular verb. This topic has been beaten to death on this site.
– Knotell
Jul 30 at 2:59
@Knotell Is this topic you refer to the topic of synesis, aka "notional agreement"?
– Zebrafish
Oct 28 at 22:18
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Bob wants to know if he is a father or not. A day later, Bob learns that he's a father. Then three years passes.
Now which of the following is correct and why?
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not.
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not.
Any help is appreciated! But I would greatly appreciate an explanation with your answer. Thank you!
verbs tenses backshifting
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
High
192
Bob wants to know if he is a father or not. A day later, Bob learns that he's a father. Then three years passes.
Now which of the following is correct and why?
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not.
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not.
Any help is appreciated! But I would greatly appreciate an explanation with your answer. Thank you!
verbs tenses backshifting
verbs tenses backshifting
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
High
192
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
High
192
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
edited Oct 28 at 21:16
sumelic
44.9k7107208
44.9k7107208
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
High
192
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
High
192
asked Jul 30 at 0:41
High
192
192
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 4 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 4 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
"Then three years passes." should be "Then three years pass.", because years is plural.
– Javatasse
Jul 30 at 0:49
Definitely "was". Because the time at which he wanted to know his paternity/fatherhood was in the past. So "was". And sorry, but I couldn't resist: youtu.be/vt2i0ts-uck?t=2s
– Zebrafish
Jul 30 at 0:59
1
@Javatasse Three years, like ten dollars, can be considered as a single unit, and as such can take a singular verb. This topic has been beaten to death on this site.
– Knotell
Jul 30 at 2:59
@Knotell Is this topic you refer to the topic of synesis, aka "notional agreement"?
– Zebrafish
Oct 28 at 22:18
add a comment |
"Then three years passes." should be "Then three years pass.", because years is plural.
– Javatasse
Jul 30 at 0:49
Definitely "was". Because the time at which he wanted to know his paternity/fatherhood was in the past. So "was". And sorry, but I couldn't resist: youtu.be/vt2i0ts-uck?t=2s
– Zebrafish
Jul 30 at 0:59
1
@Javatasse Three years, like ten dollars, can be considered as a single unit, and as such can take a singular verb. This topic has been beaten to death on this site.
– Knotell
Jul 30 at 2:59
@Knotell Is this topic you refer to the topic of synesis, aka "notional agreement"?
– Zebrafish
Oct 28 at 22:18
"Then three years passes." should be "Then three years pass.", because years is plural.
– Javatasse
Jul 30 at 0:49
"Then three years passes." should be "Then three years pass.", because years is plural.
– Javatasse
Jul 30 at 0:49
Definitely "was". Because the time at which he wanted to know his paternity/fatherhood was in the past. So "was". And sorry, but I couldn't resist: youtu.be/vt2i0ts-uck?t=2s
– Zebrafish
Jul 30 at 0:59
Definitely "was". Because the time at which he wanted to know his paternity/fatherhood was in the past. So "was". And sorry, but I couldn't resist: youtu.be/vt2i0ts-uck?t=2s
– Zebrafish
Jul 30 at 0:59
1
1
@Javatasse Three years, like ten dollars, can be considered as a single unit, and as such can take a singular verb. This topic has been beaten to death on this site.
– Knotell
Jul 30 at 2:59
@Javatasse Three years, like ten dollars, can be considered as a single unit, and as such can take a singular verb. This topic has been beaten to death on this site.
– Knotell
Jul 30 at 2:59
@Knotell Is this topic you refer to the topic of synesis, aka "notional agreement"?
– Zebrafish
Oct 28 at 22:18
@Knotell Is this topic you refer to the topic of synesis, aka "notional agreement"?
– Zebrafish
Oct 28 at 22:18
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
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0
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No matter what, it will be the past-tense. Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not. Not because it is "three years ago" but because of the reported speech -- "he wanted to know."
I asked him "Am I eligible?"
I wanted to know if I was eligible.
meta: This question may better be asked on [ell.se]
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
I see. Interesting.
– High
Jul 30 at 8:54
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
Well...
English is a tricky bastard.
And either sentence is possible (i.e., grammatical), given the right circumstances.
Say the speaker (let's call him Sal) is narrating an event that takes place entirely in the past, that is, he's telling a story or relating an event in the present from the point of view that it is over and done with; in this case you get the more probable result that (2) is correct, precisely because it is past narration, or narration about the past.
On the other hand, for (1) to be correctly used, consider Sal to be a story-teller, but this time he is telling a story about the present, and in doing so he uses the historical present, also called the story-telling present. Then, Sal can spin off some thing like
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not. Today, Bob wants to know if he is an uncle or not.
Here, Sal switches midway through his first sentence from past narration to historical present. His use of if he is a father or not alerts the listener to this switch and prepares said listener for the present tense in his second sentence. The parallel use of present tense is in both sentences is important to Sal's story and it wouldn't carry the same force without it.
Which, once again, asking for analysis of individual sentences devoid of functional and/or communicative context as well as perceived speaker's intention is chock full of problems and hardly allows for how language is used.
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
No matter what, it will be the past-tense. Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not. Not because it is "three years ago" but because of the reported speech -- "he wanted to know."
I asked him "Am I eligible?"
I wanted to know if I was eligible.
meta: This question may better be asked on [ell.se]
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
I see. Interesting.
– High
Jul 30 at 8:54
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
No matter what, it will be the past-tense. Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not. Not because it is "three years ago" but because of the reported speech -- "he wanted to know."
I asked him "Am I eligible?"
I wanted to know if I was eligible.
meta: This question may better be asked on [ell.se]
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
I see. Interesting.
– High
Jul 30 at 8:54
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
No matter what, it will be the past-tense. Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not. Not because it is "three years ago" but because of the reported speech -- "he wanted to know."
I asked him "Am I eligible?"
I wanted to know if I was eligible.
meta: This question may better be asked on [ell.se]
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
No matter what, it will be the past-tense. Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he was a father or not. Not because it is "three years ago" but because of the reported speech -- "he wanted to know."
I asked him "Am I eligible?"
I wanted to know if I was eligible.
meta: This question may better be asked on [ell.se]
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
answered Jul 30 at 7:43
Kris
32.3k541116
32.3k541116
I see. Interesting.
– High
Jul 30 at 8:54
add a comment |
I see. Interesting.
– High
Jul 30 at 8:54
I see. Interesting.
– High
Jul 30 at 8:54
I see. Interesting.
– High
Jul 30 at 8:54
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
Well...
English is a tricky bastard.
And either sentence is possible (i.e., grammatical), given the right circumstances.
Say the speaker (let's call him Sal) is narrating an event that takes place entirely in the past, that is, he's telling a story or relating an event in the present from the point of view that it is over and done with; in this case you get the more probable result that (2) is correct, precisely because it is past narration, or narration about the past.
On the other hand, for (1) to be correctly used, consider Sal to be a story-teller, but this time he is telling a story about the present, and in doing so he uses the historical present, also called the story-telling present. Then, Sal can spin off some thing like
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not. Today, Bob wants to know if he is an uncle or not.
Here, Sal switches midway through his first sentence from past narration to historical present. His use of if he is a father or not alerts the listener to this switch and prepares said listener for the present tense in his second sentence. The parallel use of present tense is in both sentences is important to Sal's story and it wouldn't carry the same force without it.
Which, once again, asking for analysis of individual sentences devoid of functional and/or communicative context as well as perceived speaker's intention is chock full of problems and hardly allows for how language is used.
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
Well...
English is a tricky bastard.
And either sentence is possible (i.e., grammatical), given the right circumstances.
Say the speaker (let's call him Sal) is narrating an event that takes place entirely in the past, that is, he's telling a story or relating an event in the present from the point of view that it is over and done with; in this case you get the more probable result that (2) is correct, precisely because it is past narration, or narration about the past.
On the other hand, for (1) to be correctly used, consider Sal to be a story-teller, but this time he is telling a story about the present, and in doing so he uses the historical present, also called the story-telling present. Then, Sal can spin off some thing like
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not. Today, Bob wants to know if he is an uncle or not.
Here, Sal switches midway through his first sentence from past narration to historical present. His use of if he is a father or not alerts the listener to this switch and prepares said listener for the present tense in his second sentence. The parallel use of present tense is in both sentences is important to Sal's story and it wouldn't carry the same force without it.
Which, once again, asking for analysis of individual sentences devoid of functional and/or communicative context as well as perceived speaker's intention is chock full of problems and hardly allows for how language is used.
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
add a comment |
up vote
-2
down vote
up vote
-2
down vote
Well...
English is a tricky bastard.
And either sentence is possible (i.e., grammatical), given the right circumstances.
Say the speaker (let's call him Sal) is narrating an event that takes place entirely in the past, that is, he's telling a story or relating an event in the present from the point of view that it is over and done with; in this case you get the more probable result that (2) is correct, precisely because it is past narration, or narration about the past.
On the other hand, for (1) to be correctly used, consider Sal to be a story-teller, but this time he is telling a story about the present, and in doing so he uses the historical present, also called the story-telling present. Then, Sal can spin off some thing like
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not. Today, Bob wants to know if he is an uncle or not.
Here, Sal switches midway through his first sentence from past narration to historical present. His use of if he is a father or not alerts the listener to this switch and prepares said listener for the present tense in his second sentence. The parallel use of present tense is in both sentences is important to Sal's story and it wouldn't carry the same force without it.
Which, once again, asking for analysis of individual sentences devoid of functional and/or communicative context as well as perceived speaker's intention is chock full of problems and hardly allows for how language is used.
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
Well...
English is a tricky bastard.
And either sentence is possible (i.e., grammatical), given the right circumstances.
Say the speaker (let's call him Sal) is narrating an event that takes place entirely in the past, that is, he's telling a story or relating an event in the present from the point of view that it is over and done with; in this case you get the more probable result that (2) is correct, precisely because it is past narration, or narration about the past.
On the other hand, for (1) to be correctly used, consider Sal to be a story-teller, but this time he is telling a story about the present, and in doing so he uses the historical present, also called the story-telling present. Then, Sal can spin off some thing like
Three years ago, Bob wanted to know if he is a father or not. Today, Bob wants to know if he is an uncle or not.
Here, Sal switches midway through his first sentence from past narration to historical present. His use of if he is a father or not alerts the listener to this switch and prepares said listener for the present tense in his second sentence. The parallel use of present tense is in both sentences is important to Sal's story and it wouldn't carry the same force without it.
Which, once again, asking for analysis of individual sentences devoid of functional and/or communicative context as well as perceived speaker's intention is chock full of problems and hardly allows for how language is used.
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
edited Jul 30 at 3:21
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
answered Jul 30 at 3:14
Knotell
4,74221445
4,74221445
add a comment |
add a comment |
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"Then three years passes." should be "Then three years pass.", because years is plural.
– Javatasse
Jul 30 at 0:49
Definitely "was". Because the time at which he wanted to know his paternity/fatherhood was in the past. So "was". And sorry, but I couldn't resist: youtu.be/vt2i0ts-uck?t=2s
– Zebrafish
Jul 30 at 0:59
1
@Javatasse Three years, like ten dollars, can be considered as a single unit, and as such can take a singular verb. This topic has been beaten to death on this site.
– Knotell
Jul 30 at 2:59
@Knotell Is this topic you refer to the topic of synesis, aka "notional agreement"?
– Zebrafish
Oct 28 at 22:18