Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    High on grammar is offline Junior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Persian
      • Home Country:
      • Iran
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    41

    Post “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?

    Dear English teachers:
    What is the difference between “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?
    Examples and their sources:
    “I must tell you that it is I who went to the kitchen with my mother when Bernard met Kang,”

    LIAISON

    And it is I who wentto tell the people that the child had been murdered by his father.'

    Tears of the Dead: The Social Biography of an African Family - Page 89

    "It was I who did all these things . . .The Anointed, The Elect, and The Damned! - Page 138
    It was I that wrote you the letters.

    when should use a past tense after " I is I who/that...?
    Thanks

  2. #2
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    24,024

    Default Re: “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?

    Quote Originally Posted by High on grammar View Post
    What is the difference between “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?
    I may be missing something here, but I can't see any difference between those to, except that you have reversed the order of 'that' and 'who'.
    wWhen should I/we/you/one use a past tense after " I is I who/that...?
    When what 'I' did took place in the past.
    Last edited by 5jj; 22-Nov-2012 at 22:59.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  3. #3
    High on grammar is offline Junior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Persian
      • Home Country:
      • Iran
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?

    Quote Originally Posted by 5jj View Post
    I may be missing something here, but I can't see any difference between those two, except that you have reversed the order of 'that' and 'who'.When what 'I' did took place in the past.
    If the action happened in the past , then why the sentence reads: It is (present tense) I that did it >

    When do we say it IS I that did it and when " It WAS I that did it"?

    Thanks

  4. #4
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    24,024

    Default Re: “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?

    Sorry - I did indeed miss something.

    'It was I ...' places the whole situation in the past.

    'It is I ... 'draws attention to the fact that the speaker, who is (?: was) the person who did whatever it was identifies his/her present views/actions with those that happened in the past.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  5. #5
    High on grammar is offline Junior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Persian
      • Home Country:
      • Iran
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?

    Thanks. But I would really appreciate it if you would explain it in a much simpler way so that I could understand what you mean by " identifies his/her present views/actions with those that happened in the past.

    Thanks again

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-Mar-2012, 11:14
  2. [Grammar] Past perfect tense and simple past tense
    By alfree in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-Feb-2012, 16:28
  3. simpe past tense vs past perfect tense
    By aysaa in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 16-Jan-2012, 20:14
  4. [Grammar] past perfect tense and simple past tense
    By prianca.p4 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-Oct-2011, 18:09
  5. [Grammar] present tense, past tense, past participal
    By aisog in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 30-Nov-2008, 23:59

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1