[Grammar] You were/are right in saying that....

[nelson13]

Context:

I am talking to an American, and he says that Putonghua is a corrupt language.

I couldn't agree more, and should I say:

You were/are right in saying that....

The event is past, so were seems correct; it can also be a permanent truth, so are seems correct; when I am typing this thread, it seems that have been is also correct, as the present perfect tense is used to relate a past event to the present time....

 

[nelson13]

Or if my reply is that I feel surprised, should I say:

I was/am surprised?

 

[billmcd]

Context:

I am talking to an American, and he says that Putonghua is a corrupt language.

I couldn't agree more, and should I say:

You were/are right in saying that....

The event is past, so were seems correct; it can also be a permanent truth, so are seems correct; when I am typing this thread, it seems that have been is also correct, as the present perfect tense is used to relate a past event to the present time....

If yours was an immediate response, ".....are right.....". If some time has passed and the subject came up again, ".....were right......". But you could also say, as you included in your post and as an immediate response, "I couldn't agree more".

 

[nelson13]

Thank you. Very helpful.