1

Scenario: My friend John has a personality disorder, intensely paranoid for example.

Can I say:

There were three events last year that told me John had a problem.

or can I say:

There were threee events last year that told me John has a problem.

Improve this question
1

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
-1

I agree with mgkrebbs in the case of storytelling. In conversation, however, if I say:

There were three events last year that told me John had a problem.

I am implying that he had a problem last year but that the problem is no longer present. If I say:

There were three events last year that told me John has a problem.

I am implying that the problem existed last year and continues into the present.

Might I also suggest the following (assuming the problem still exists):

Three events last year told me John has a problem.

Improve this answer
2

Of the two alternatives, the correct one is There were three events last year that told me John had a problem. It should not be phrased with has because the verb told is in the past, so it must have told you about something in the past (i.e. John had a problem). It says nothing about whether the problem is or is not currently present.

Improve this answer
3
  • But what if I said : 'Look, John is sick, there were three events last year that told me John has a problem.'
    – nicholas ainsworth
    Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 6:37
  • 2
    You could say that without raising eyebrows; it would be more or less understood. In a way, it might be taken as a shorter form of John is sick. There were three events last year that told me John was having a problem. If you want to say he is now having a problem, you could say something like John is sick. There were three events last year that tell me John has a problem. or ...is having a problem.
    – mgkrebbs
    Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 6:54
  • 1
    It sounds a lot more strained to say There were three events last year that tell me... than to say Three events last year told me he has a problem. Possibly the best way is to avoid the issue: John has a problem: three events last year told me so.
    – psmears
    Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 11:52

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.