Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[BMO]

1. The first time I saw you, I thought you were a nice person.
2. The first time I saw you, I thought you are a nice person.

The difference:

1. You were nice, but not now. It is sarcastic.
2. You are nice, then and now.

Correct?

3. I thought he is nice.
4. I thought he was nice.

Any difference here?

I think a nice person is not the same as a good person. In terms of character, it should be a good person. Am I right?

Thanks.

bmo

[bud]

BMO, I'm a little shaky on the main questions, but I think probably 2 and 3 are incorrect. I think because the thought is in the past, to be should also be in the past. I'm not sure about that, though.

Does 1 imply that your opinion is now different? It might or it might not. It depends on the context.

Nice is a word that describes how a person reacts with others. It's got quite a range of meanings. If you tell me that someone is nice, I dont' know if you mean polite, friendly, quick with a joke, welcoming, or what. All I know is that I will probably not dislike that person. You're correct that it does not tell me that the person is a good person. Sociopaths are often nice when it is needed for their purposes.

[BMO]

Thanks.

bmo