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Jiayun

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A told B " You are wrong. His name is Anthony not Antony."

B said "I thought it spells Antony but sounds like Anthony."

Should the present tense "spells" and "sounds" be used or B should use past tense? Is there any more natural way to say what was said by B?

Thanks!

JY
 

SlickVic9000

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What B said should be expressed like this:

"I thought it was spelled Antony but sounded like Anthony."
 

Rover_KE

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Note that in BE, we usually spell 'spelled' spelt.

Rover
 

Jiayun

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Thanks!

What if I still think his name is Antony, can I use the present tense instead of the past tense?


(Not a Teacher)

What B said should be expressed like this:

"I thought it was spelled Antony but sounded like Anthony."
 

SlickVic9000

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Then it would need to be:

"I think​ it is spelled Antony but sounds like Anthony."
 

Jiayun

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Please consider the following scenario:-

A told B "Your customer spelled the name wrong. The name is Anthony not Antony".

B said "My customer thought it is spelt Antony but sounds like Anthony"

Could B say that if B knows his customer still holds such view?

I was once told in this forum that "My customer told me he likes me because I always simle" is correct in grammar so long as the customer still likes me now.

(Not a Teacher)

Then it would need to be:

"I think​ it is spelled Antony but sounds like Anthony."
 

Jiayun

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Much appreciated if anyone could help answer the queries in my post above. Thanks in advance! ;-)
 

Tdol

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Yes, they could.
 
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