Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

When I first saw her I thought she was a fellow teenager, but she *is*already 28.

or was? she is still 28

[CP]

I think either one is fine.

At the time I first saw her (recently), I was a teenager and she was already 28, although I thought she was a teenager. If I put it all in the past tense and write it down, it will be a correct statement even if no one reads it for 100 years.

But if we're talking and I'm telling you about it, and it happened only a few days ago, it is true that she is 28 right now. Nothing is lost by putting it in the present tense.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[kerstin]

So, it depends on if she is still that age or not?
Thanks

[CP]

Yes. She's still 28 and I'm still a teenager when I speak or write the words, so the words are true.

If it's five years later, I should put it in the past tense so that the words will be true. But I can also use the past tense right now because when I first saw her it was in the past also -- albeit the recent past.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[iitimone7]

kerstin and msdare- for the sake of a lenghthy explanation, was in the sentence presented is more like using the word as the past tense of is.

does that make sense? iitimone7