Sam told Paige that he loves/loved her.

[northpath]

In the American TV Serial “Atypical” one of the characters says “Great news: Sam told Paige that he loves her.”
The correct sentence should be “… Sam told Paige that he loved her.”, shouldn’t it?

 

[jutfrank]

No. The present tense is apparently more appropriate there since the love is very much present (and presumably one of the current storylines).

 

[emsr2d2]

@northpath Note that I have improved your thread title. Don't use the topic or a precis of your question as the title. Use the sentence(s) you're asking us about. This ensures that each thread title is unique.

 

[northpath]

@northpath Note that I have improved your thread title. Don't use the topic or a precis of your question as the title. Use the sentence(s) you're asking us about. This ensures that each thread title is unique.

OK, thanks.

 

[northpath]

No. The present tense is apparently more appropriate there since the love is very much present (and presumably one of the current storylines).

OK, then what about the sentence: “I didn’t know that you have a brother.” The brother is still alive!

 

[emsr2d2]

OK, then what about the sentence no colon needed here “I didn’t know that you have a brother"? The brother is still alive!

In that context, you can use either "have" or "had". Most native speakers would use "had". If the brother was dead, we'd say "I didn't know you used to have a brother".

 

[northpath]

In that context, you can use either "have" or "had". Most native speakers would use "had". If the brother was dead, we'd say "I didn't know you used to have brother".

OK, thanks. I didn’t know how to say if the brother was dead.

 

[Tarheel]

"I loved you" are the saddest words that were ever said.
I'd rather not say them. In fact, I'd rather be dead.