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Jack112 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

I wish

Scenario: I'm in class sitting with my classmates and I'm thinking in my head:

Are both of these correct? Or only #2 is? If not, #2 would be the optimal choice?

1. I wish the people that sit around me were less bothersome.

2. I wish the people that sat around me were less bothersome.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

" would still be better. me" is a relative clause that defines "the people"; if you describe a situation in the present, that is, the peoples are now sitting around you, it shouldn't be in a past tense. "

— Pieanne

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4 Answers

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I prefer 1., and I feel "...the people that are sitting around me..." would still be better.

The clause "that...me" is a relative clause that defines "the people"; if you describe a situation in the present, that is, the peoples are now sitting around you, it shouldn't be in a past tense. You can even shorten it to: "I wish the people sitting around me were ..."
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Jack112Scenario: I'm in class sitting with my classmates and I'm thinking in my head:

Are both of these correct? Or only #2 is? If not, #2 would be the optimal choice?

1. I wish the people that sit around me were less bothersome.

2. I wish the people that were sitting around me
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Jack112
Scenario: I'm in class sitting with my classmates and I'm thinking in my head:

Are both of these correct? Or only #2 is? If not, #2 would be the optimal choice?

1. I wish the people that sit around me were less bothersome.

2. I wish the people that sat around me were less bothersome.

Thanks.

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It's a little bit like what a guru would say, right? He's used to having people stiing around him/her, but in any case, any day, he 'd rather they were less bothersome?
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