Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[dido4]

He decided the dog was his favorite animal.

Q: Can we say this way(tense):

1.He decides the dog is his favorite.
2.He decided the dog is his favorite.

I don't know how to use the tense. In noun clause, is the tense(agreement) cab be different?(like the sentenses above)

Thank you

[nostril5]

Since no one has answered...

You can change the tenses, if the context makes it clear why you are doing this (so, if this question is because a teacher marked you wrong...give up - the teacher is trying to help you have clear English).

The first sentence is perfect: "He decided the dog was his favorite animal."

The other sentences are possible in unusual circumstances.

"1.He decides the dog is his favorite." we could use in telling a story to make the reader feel they are there at the moment that this happened.

"2.He decided the dog is his favorite." could also be used in a story. This is even more unusual, but sometimes used to tell the reader that the 'decided' happened in the past, but to still give the feeling that the reader is there when this happened.

I hope this helps.

Mike