He is a hero

[Maybo]

Mary: Do you know John?
Peter: Yes. John died three year ago. He is a hero because he had saved a lot of lives in the fires.

Is it correct to use the simple present tense for "He is a hero"? He's died so I'm thinking if I should use the past tense for that part?

 

[tedmc]

His name lives on as a hero.

 

[Piscean]

Mary: Do you know John?
Peter: Yes. John died three year ago. He is a hero because he had saved a lot of lives in the fires.

Is it correct to use the simple present tense for "He is a hero"? He's died so I'm thinking if I should use the past tense for that part?

It's an artificial conversation. If Mary does not know that John died three years ago, she is unlikely to ask Peter if he knows John. If she did ask this unlikely question, the natural response would not be 'Yes' but something like 'Well, I knew him'.

In the sentence you are asking about, 'was' is natural, and I see no reason for the past perfect in 'had saved'.

 

[teechar]

Also,

John died three years ago.

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in the fires.

Are you talking about particular fires?

 

[Maybo]

Also,

----------------

Are you talking about particular fires?

In different fires. For example, a fire in ten years ago and a fire in eight years ago.

 

[Tarheel]

@Maybo See below.

Teechar: Are you talking about particular fires?
Maybo: Yes -- one ten years ago, and one eight years ago.

He was a hero.

 

[teechar]

In different fires. For example, a fire in ten years ago and a fire in eight years ago.

My point is that if you're talking about fires in general, you wouldn't say "the fires"; you might say "saved many lives as a (brave) fireman".

 

[Tarheel]

My point is that if you're talking about fires in general, you wouldn't say "the fires"; you might say "saved many lives as a (brave) fireman".

She could say that if that's what she meant. My take on it is he saved people in two separate fires -- not that he was a paid firefighter. Instead, he voluntarily put his own life at risk to help others -- two times!

 

[teechar]

That would only work if the fires are specific/previously identified in the conversation.

 

[Tarheel]

That would only work if the fires are specific/previously identified in the conversation.

You are right. I somehow overlooked the "the fires" part even though you mentioned it in your post.

 

[Maybo]

Is it correct to say "saved a lot of lives in fires"?

 

[Tarheel]

Is it correct to say "HE saved a lot of lives in fires"?

Of course.