[Grammar] Were you going to get in touch with Mario, or was he going to call you?

[kadioguy]

(In one of the Toeic listening test questions)

Woman 1: Were you going to get in touch with Mario, or was he going to call you?

Woman 2: I’m supposed to contact him.
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1. Why is in the first line the past tense used, rather the present tense?

2. Why is in the second line the tense not the same as in the first line?

PS - Is it OK to say "In one of the Toeic listening test questions", or is there a better way to say it?

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(Source)

 

[jutfrank]

Woman 1 is thinking of the arrangement as existing in the past. She may well be thinking of the actual verbal transaction that took place between Woman 2 and Mario.

Woman 2 is thinking of the arrangement as a present situation.

 

[kadioguy]

PS - Is it OK to say "In one of the Toeic listening test questions", or is there a better way to say it?

What do you think about this?

 

[jutfrank]

What do you think about this?

It's simpler to say: From a TOEIC listening question. Be aware that some of the non-teacher members probably won't know what TOEIC is. (It's an internationally recognised English language test.)