Do we use the present or the past after “when” in a conditional sentence?
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He said we would get married when we get older.
or
He said we would get married when we got older.
Which tense of the verb get should be used?
past-tense present-tense indirect-speech
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
add a comment |
He said we would get married when we get older.
or
He said we would get married when we got older.
Which tense of the verb get should be used?
past-tense present-tense indirect-speech
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
add a comment |
He said we would get married when we get older.
or
He said we would get married when we got older.
Which tense of the verb get should be used?
past-tense present-tense indirect-speech
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
He said we would get married when we get older.
or
He said we would get married when we got older.
Which tense of the verb get should be used?
past-tense present-tense indirect-speech
past-tense present-tense indirect-speech
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
edited Jan 10 '16 at 11:15
user140086
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
asked Jan 10 '16 at 9:27
LizaLiza
814
814
add a comment |
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Interestingly, both sentences are grammatical, and they mean the same thing
-- at least they do in a context where all uses of we refer to the same two people.
- He said we would get married when we get older.
- He said we would get married when we got older.
Rules taught in schools about what verb forms must be used in conditional clause constructions
normally refer to what you can say, not what you can't say. There is always a range of options.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
1
That observation is completely correct. The conditionals taught in schools are a model of what can be done, not what can't be done. They're a take off platform.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:03
add a comment |
Both are grammatical and mean ALMOST the same thing. The difference is that the second tends to convey the implication that plans have changed and what he said is no longer true – one can almost hear a "but" following the sentence.
He said we would get married when we get older.
Last night Billy told me we'd get married in a couple of years, when I'm 18.
He said we would get married when we got older.
Billy promised me that we'd get married when I turned 18, but then he ran off with that waitress.
Or you can take a slightly different point of view and read the first sentence as reporting what Billy said last night, while the second is reporting what Billy said 3 years ago – essentially the present (as near as one can report) vs the past.
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
add a comment |
It's all about something called 'backshift'. With verbs of reporting that are in the past tense, like "said", you have the option to either backshift the tense, or keep the original present tense when you report what was said. The original utterance would have been in the present tense:
"We will get married when we get older".
But the report of it contains the past tense:
"He said we would get married when we got older".
However, you can keep the present tense instead of backshifting it, so both your examples are actually correct. Note that the verb in the matrix clause can also be backshifted (would) or left in the present tense (will).
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
2
+1 However, I submit that the acceptability of get hinges on us not being old yet.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:01
add a comment |
If you are paraphrasing what "he" said, which you clearly are, then it is reported speech that is indirect speech, which requires you to use the past tense:
- He said we would get married when he got older.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Interestingly, both sentences are grammatical, and they mean the same thing
-- at least they do in a context where all uses of we refer to the same two people.
- He said we would get married when we get older.
- He said we would get married when we got older.
Rules taught in schools about what verb forms must be used in conditional clause constructions
normally refer to what you can say, not what you can't say. There is always a range of options.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
1
That observation is completely correct. The conditionals taught in schools are a model of what can be done, not what can't be done. They're a take off platform.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:03
add a comment |
Interestingly, both sentences are grammatical, and they mean the same thing
-- at least they do in a context where all uses of we refer to the same two people.
- He said we would get married when we get older.
- He said we would get married when we got older.
Rules taught in schools about what verb forms must be used in conditional clause constructions
normally refer to what you can say, not what you can't say. There is always a range of options.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
1
That observation is completely correct. The conditionals taught in schools are a model of what can be done, not what can't be done. They're a take off platform.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:03
add a comment |
Interestingly, both sentences are grammatical, and they mean the same thing
-- at least they do in a context where all uses of we refer to the same two people.
- He said we would get married when we get older.
- He said we would get married when we got older.
Rules taught in schools about what verb forms must be used in conditional clause constructions
normally refer to what you can say, not what you can't say. There is always a range of options.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
Interestingly, both sentences are grammatical, and they mean the same thing
-- at least they do in a context where all uses of we refer to the same two people.
- He said we would get married when we get older.
- He said we would get married when we got older.
Rules taught in schools about what verb forms must be used in conditional clause constructions
normally refer to what you can say, not what you can't say. There is always a range of options.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
answered Jan 10 '16 at 15:08
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
85.1k6118336
1
That observation is completely correct. The conditionals taught in schools are a model of what can be done, not what can't be done. They're a take off platform.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:03
add a comment |
1
That observation is completely correct. The conditionals taught in schools are a model of what can be done, not what can't be done. They're a take off platform.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:03
1
1
That observation is completely correct. The conditionals taught in schools are a model of what can be done, not what can't be done. They're a take off platform.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:03
That observation is completely correct. The conditionals taught in schools are a model of what can be done, not what can't be done. They're a take off platform.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:03
add a comment |
Both are grammatical and mean ALMOST the same thing. The difference is that the second tends to convey the implication that plans have changed and what he said is no longer true – one can almost hear a "but" following the sentence.
He said we would get married when we get older.
Last night Billy told me we'd get married in a couple of years, when I'm 18.
He said we would get married when we got older.
Billy promised me that we'd get married when I turned 18, but then he ran off with that waitress.
Or you can take a slightly different point of view and read the first sentence as reporting what Billy said last night, while the second is reporting what Billy said 3 years ago – essentially the present (as near as one can report) vs the past.
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
add a comment |
Both are grammatical and mean ALMOST the same thing. The difference is that the second tends to convey the implication that plans have changed and what he said is no longer true – one can almost hear a "but" following the sentence.
He said we would get married when we get older.
Last night Billy told me we'd get married in a couple of years, when I'm 18.
He said we would get married when we got older.
Billy promised me that we'd get married when I turned 18, but then he ran off with that waitress.
Or you can take a slightly different point of view and read the first sentence as reporting what Billy said last night, while the second is reporting what Billy said 3 years ago – essentially the present (as near as one can report) vs the past.
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
add a comment |
Both are grammatical and mean ALMOST the same thing. The difference is that the second tends to convey the implication that plans have changed and what he said is no longer true – one can almost hear a "but" following the sentence.
He said we would get married when we get older.
Last night Billy told me we'd get married in a couple of years, when I'm 18.
He said we would get married when we got older.
Billy promised me that we'd get married when I turned 18, but then he ran off with that waitress.
Or you can take a slightly different point of view and read the first sentence as reporting what Billy said last night, while the second is reporting what Billy said 3 years ago – essentially the present (as near as one can report) vs the past.
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
Both are grammatical and mean ALMOST the same thing. The difference is that the second tends to convey the implication that plans have changed and what he said is no longer true – one can almost hear a "but" following the sentence.
He said we would get married when we get older.
Last night Billy told me we'd get married in a couple of years, when I'm 18.
He said we would get married when we got older.
Billy promised me that we'd get married when I turned 18, but then he ran off with that waitress.
Or you can take a slightly different point of view and read the first sentence as reporting what Billy said last night, while the second is reporting what Billy said 3 years ago – essentially the present (as near as one can report) vs the past.
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
edited 4 mins ago
skygate
133
133
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
answered Jan 10 '16 at 23:20
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.6k23777
19.6k23777
add a comment |
add a comment |
It's all about something called 'backshift'. With verbs of reporting that are in the past tense, like "said", you have the option to either backshift the tense, or keep the original present tense when you report what was said. The original utterance would have been in the present tense:
"We will get married when we get older".
But the report of it contains the past tense:
"He said we would get married when we got older".
However, you can keep the present tense instead of backshifting it, so both your examples are actually correct. Note that the verb in the matrix clause can also be backshifted (would) or left in the present tense (will).
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
2
+1 However, I submit that the acceptability of get hinges on us not being old yet.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:01
add a comment |
It's all about something called 'backshift'. With verbs of reporting that are in the past tense, like "said", you have the option to either backshift the tense, or keep the original present tense when you report what was said. The original utterance would have been in the present tense:
"We will get married when we get older".
But the report of it contains the past tense:
"He said we would get married when we got older".
However, you can keep the present tense instead of backshifting it, so both your examples are actually correct. Note that the verb in the matrix clause can also be backshifted (would) or left in the present tense (will).
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
2
+1 However, I submit that the acceptability of get hinges on us not being old yet.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:01
add a comment |
It's all about something called 'backshift'. With verbs of reporting that are in the past tense, like "said", you have the option to either backshift the tense, or keep the original present tense when you report what was said. The original utterance would have been in the present tense:
"We will get married when we get older".
But the report of it contains the past tense:
"He said we would get married when we got older".
However, you can keep the present tense instead of backshifting it, so both your examples are actually correct. Note that the verb in the matrix clause can also be backshifted (would) or left in the present tense (will).
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
It's all about something called 'backshift'. With verbs of reporting that are in the past tense, like "said", you have the option to either backshift the tense, or keep the original present tense when you report what was said. The original utterance would have been in the present tense:
"We will get married when we get older".
But the report of it contains the past tense:
"He said we would get married when we got older".
However, you can keep the present tense instead of backshifting it, so both your examples are actually correct. Note that the verb in the matrix clause can also be backshifted (would) or left in the present tense (will).
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
answered Jan 10 '16 at 21:41
BillJBillJ
4,3861914
4,3861914
2
+1 However, I submit that the acceptability of get hinges on us not being old yet.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:01
add a comment |
2
+1 However, I submit that the acceptability of get hinges on us not being old yet.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:01
2
2
+1 However, I submit that the acceptability of get hinges on us not being old yet.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:01
+1 However, I submit that the acceptability of get hinges on us not being old yet.
– Araucaria
Jan 12 '16 at 9:01
add a comment |
If you are paraphrasing what "he" said, which you clearly are, then it is reported speech that is indirect speech, which requires you to use the past tense:
- He said we would get married when he got older.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
add a comment |
If you are paraphrasing what "he" said, which you clearly are, then it is reported speech that is indirect speech, which requires you to use the past tense:
- He said we would get married when he got older.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
add a comment |
If you are paraphrasing what "he" said, which you clearly are, then it is reported speech that is indirect speech, which requires you to use the past tense:
- He said we would get married when he got older.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
If you are paraphrasing what "he" said, which you clearly are, then it is reported speech that is indirect speech, which requires you to use the past tense:
- He said we would get married when he got older.
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
edited Jan 10 '16 at 10:05
user140086
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
answered Jan 10 '16 at 9:49
Benjamin HarmanBenjamin Harman
5,73531740
5,73531740
add a comment |
add a comment |
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