Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hanygeorge38]

Dear Bud,

I was reading an article about the ban of the American beef in Japan


Japan will start buying beef from America again following the lifting yesterday of a two-year ban. The Japanese government gave the green light for US cattle under the age of 21 months to be sold in Japan�s stores. Agricultural safety experts decided young cows were free from BSE (mad cow disease).



I think the author should have used (are) instead of (were) because
we are taking about a current situation.

Am I correct and if I am wrong why ?


Thanks

Hany
_________________
hany

[bud]

That's a good question, Hany. I think "are" would work OK, but to me it sounds better with "were."

I think it just depends on the logic you want to use in forming the sentence:

Using "were" - The decision was made in the past, and at that time the young cows were free from BSE... Using this logic, it would be assumed that they would continue to be healthy into the future, and thus OK to buy.

Using "are" - Although the decision was made in the past, the young cows were free of the disease then, and still "are" now.

I'm not sure about this explanation, though. Maybe someone else has something to add?