A question about tense
Bill:'Mary ,why are you baking a cake now? it is not time for supper!'
Mary:'Bill, this cake is not for you.I visited the Black's in the morning. Do you still remember Mrs Black's son --little Tom? Poor boy, he was sick,so I am baking a cake for him.'
I don't understand, why Mary says'Tom was sick' instead of saying 'Tom is sick'. I believe Tom is still sick when Mary is saying this sentence.
Whould you please answer my question? Thank you ..
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 3
5
The reason she's saying that is because the last time she saw the Blacks was that morning. When she saw them THEN, the boy was sick. He may still be sick, but she doesn't know that. All she knows is that he WAS sick when she last talked, and so she's referencing his past sickness instead of speculating on his current sickness.
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