What tense to use? Help!

Question

Hi all,I have a very simple questions to ask.In a past sentence where you are describing about something in the future, what tense do you use for the description?Are there any specific rules to follow? Please advise. Thank you.I have a few examples here:SENTENCE 1:I told him that I WAS going to buy the toothbrush tomorrow.- Is it WAS or AM? the conversation took place yesterday but the toothbrush has not been bought.SENTENCE 2:I told him that I WAS going to buy the toothbrush two days later which "IS" tomorrow.- Is it WAS or AM? the conversation took place yesterday but the toothbrush has not been bought.- Is it "which is tomorrow" or "which was tomorrow"?SENTENCE 3:At the beginning of the course, I portrayed myself as a passive member in the team and learned as much as I could from other members who WERE experts in this field- the course is still going on. I was talking about the past but the other members are still experts now. Do I use "WERE experts" or "ARE experts"?Thank you again. Please advise.Ian

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I have a very simple questions to ask. In a past sentence where you are describing about something in the future, what tense do you use for the description? Are there any specific rules to follow? Please advise. Thank you.[/nq]
I looked to see if the Grammar and Writing site has a page on "indirect speech". It had a link to this, which may or may not be useful to you:

Noun Clauses/Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
Tense Harmony or Sequencing
http://staff.washington.edu/marynell/grammar/reprtdsp. ml
[nq:1]I have a few examples here: SENTENCE 1: I told him that I WAS going to buy the toothbrush tomorrow. - Is it WAS or AM? the conversation took place yesterday but the toothbrush has not been bought.[/nq]
You can always use 'was' in such a quote. You may also use 'am' in this case, because you still intend to buy the toothbrush.
[nq:1]SENTENCE 2: I told him that I WAS going to buy the toothbrush two days later which "IS" tomorrow. - ... took place yesterday but the toothbrush has not been bought. - Is it "which is tomorrow" or "which was tomorrow"?[/nq]
When you spoke to him, did you say "which is tomorrow"? No, you couldn't have, because two days later is never tomorrow. So the phrase "which is tomorrow" is something you are saying now, not something you are quoting. It is "is".
[nq:1]SENTENCE 3: At the beginning of the course, I portrayed myself as a passive member in the team and learned ... talking about the past but the other members are still experts now. Do I use "WERE experts" or "ARE experts"?[/nq]
"Were," because they were at the time you were learning from them. Experts tend to stay experts, anyway.

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hi all, I have a very simple questions to ask. In a past sentence where you are describing about something ... the toothbrush tomorrow. - Is it WAS or AM? the conversation took place yesterday but thetoothbrush has not been bought.[/nq]
was or am. "was" for sure if there is now some doubt about the brush purchase.
[nq:1]SENTENCE 2: I told him that I WAS going to buy the toothbrush two days later which"IS" tomorrow. - Is it WAS or AM? the conversation took place yesterday but thetoothbrush has not been bought.[/nq]
was
[nq:1]- Is it "which is tomorrow" or "which was tomorrow"?[/nq]
is
[nq:1]SENTENCE 3: At the beginning of the course, I portrayed myself as a passive member in the team and learned ... talking about the past but the other members are still experts now. Do I use "WERE experts" or "ARE experts"?[/nq]
are
Adrian

What tense to use? Help!

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