A Grammatical Question

[sariputra]

What did you say your name (is/was)?
**********************************************
With reference to the above sentence, I would appreciate it if you would kindly let me know which is more preferable between is and was?

 

[Anglika]

What did you say your name (is/was)?
**********************************************
With reference to the above sentence, I would appreciate it if you would kindly let me know which is more preferable between is and was?

Since you have "did", the past "was" is technically better, but in colloquial English either can be used.

 

[puzzle]

A, " What did you say your name was/is?"
B, "My name is / was xxx."

:?: Either "is" or "was" in the answer is ok? Please.

 

[David L.]

A, " What did you say your name was/is?"
'saying' of the name must have occurred before you asked me to repeat it, so it's in the past, and we use the past tense 'was'. However, my name, in the past, right now, and in the future, will be the same - another way of phrasing your sentence is, "Your name again is...?"

B, "My name is / was xxx."
Unless you have adopted an alias, your name stays the same, so if asked in the present, we use present tense - I am John, My name is Sue.
"My name was xxx" indicates that you must have changed it - your name was xxx and now your name is yyy,