Hello, teachers. I have a question. - Page 2

Tdol · #11 (**permalink**) 13-Jun-2003, 21:14

It's possible, but backshifting to 'was' is more natural.

#12 (**permalink**) 15-Jun-2003, 07:18

Hi, tdol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro-D

But, "He knew that my mother had been a nurse." could not be "He knew that my mother was a nurse." even if the order is obvious.
Right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

In the examples you give, the tense is important because there is nothing to indicate the order, so it is only through the tense that we can see whether she still works as a nurse or not.

I'm sorry for a lack of explanation. I tried to say,
When there is an adequate context and that he knew (at some point in the past) that your mother had been a nurse sometime before then is an obvious fact,
you native English speakers say "He knew that my mother was a nurse." instead of "He knew that my mother had been a nurse."?

Thank you for your time.
Astro-D

RonBee · #13 (**permalink**) 15-Jun-2003, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro-D

I'm sorry for a lack of explanation. I tried to say,
When there is an adequate context and that he knew (at some point in the past) that your mother had been a nurse sometime before then is an obvious fact,
you native English speakers say "He knew that my mother was a nurse." instead of "He knew that my mother had been a nurse."?

Not exactly. "He knew that my mother was a nurse" indicates his knowledge of her status (that she was a nurse) at the time he knew her. "He knew that my mother had been a nurse" indicates his knowedge of her previous status. (He knew that she had been a nurse.)

8)