cubezero3
Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2009
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- China
- Current Location
- China
Hello, everyone.
Suppose I am having relationship difficulties with my girl friend. My friend Adam saw me earlier today and said:"Cubezero3, it seems your relationship is going to a dead end. Perhaps you should consider changing the way you talk to you partner." I was very upset at that time because my girlfriend and I had just had a massive arguement only a few minutes ago. Trying not to show my true feelings, I told him I was alright. A few weeks later, I realised that I needed my friend's help. So I went to his place and admitted what happened that day.
In such a situation, I guess You were right can be conviniently thought to better suit, compared with You are right.
Now let's change the context a little bit. I had a massive arguement with my girlfriend and decided to take a walk. Then I saw Adam, a very good friend of mine and some I can trust. We greeted each other. He knew my stories. Because I didn't look happy he asked whether I had something with my girlfriend. I denied and went on to talk about something else. In a few minute's time, I realised that I actually wanted to seek advice from him, which could be done without my telling him the truth. So I decided to admit that he was right.
Here, it seems, at least to me, both You are right and You were right work. The use of present tense can be understood as referring to his thinking. He thought and still thinks, at the time of speaking, that I had something with my girlfriend. However, the use of past tense can also be justified as referring to a judgement made in the past.
What do you think of this?
Many thanks
Richard
Suppose I am having relationship difficulties with my girl friend. My friend Adam saw me earlier today and said:"Cubezero3, it seems your relationship is going to a dead end. Perhaps you should consider changing the way you talk to you partner." I was very upset at that time because my girlfriend and I had just had a massive arguement only a few minutes ago. Trying not to show my true feelings, I told him I was alright. A few weeks later, I realised that I needed my friend's help. So I went to his place and admitted what happened that day.
In such a situation, I guess You were right can be conviniently thought to better suit, compared with You are right.
Now let's change the context a little bit. I had a massive arguement with my girlfriend and decided to take a walk. Then I saw Adam, a very good friend of mine and some I can trust. We greeted each other. He knew my stories. Because I didn't look happy he asked whether I had something with my girlfriend. I denied and went on to talk about something else. In a few minute's time, I realised that I actually wanted to seek advice from him, which could be done without my telling him the truth. So I decided to admit that he was right.
Here, it seems, at least to me, both You are right and You were right work. The use of present tense can be understood as referring to his thinking. He thought and still thinks, at the time of speaking, that I had something with my girlfriend. However, the use of past tense can also be justified as referring to a judgement made in the past.
What do you think of this?
Many thanks
Richard
