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is/was

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tanguatlay
 
Reply Sat 20 Sep, 2008 10:52 pm
The last movie I saw was/is 'Rambo'.
Should I use 'was' or 'is'?

Many thanks.
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Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 1,192 • Replies: 16
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OmSigDAVID
 
  1  
Reply Sat 20 Sep, 2008 10:56 pm
@tanguatlay,
IS
because it still exists

0 Replies
 
joefromchicago
 
  2  
Reply Sat 20 Sep, 2008 11:55 pm
@tanguatlay,
tanguatlay wrote:

The last movie I saw was/is 'Rambo'.
Should I use 'was' or 'is'?

"Was," because it agrees in tense with "saw."
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OmSigDAVID
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 12:53 am
but that movie IS the last one that he saw
and it will remain so into the future, until he sees another movie
tanguatlay
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 07:31 am
@OmSigDAVID,
Hi

I'm confused by the the answers. It seems both are right. But Iwonder.
OmSigDAVID
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 07:46 am
@tanguatlay,
Yes; you can use either.
McTag
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 07:56 am
@OmSigDAVID,

No you can't. It should be "was".
OmSigDAVID
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 09:54 am
@McTag,
U r rong.
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 11:10 am
@OmSigDAVID,

I is rite.
0 Replies
 
saab
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 12:49 pm
@tanguatlay,
As SAW is past tense it has to be WAS.
The last movie I saw was Rambo.
It is a good film. Here you can use is as the film is still good.
It was a good film. You can also use was in this case as you refer to the moment you saw the film.
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 04:30 pm
@saab,
Where does this idea come from that tenses always have to match? In this case 'was' would be the most likely choice 'is' is a possibility.
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OmSigDAVID
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 04:44 pm
It still IS the last movie that he saw, UNTIL he sees another one.

If he is asked "which IS the last movie that u saw ? "
he will identify that one.
JTT
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 04:55 pm
@OmSigDAVID,
Quote:
Om Sig D
It still IS the last movie that he saw, UNTIL he sees another one.

If he is asked "which IS the last movie that u saw ? "
he will identify that one.


Quote:
Om Sig D
Yes; you can use either.
joefromchicago
 
  1  
Reply Sun 21 Sep, 2008 05:45 pm
@JTT,
I think we can all agree that anyone who takes advice on the English language from OSD has some serious judgment issues.
JTT
 
  2  
Reply Mon 22 Sep, 2008 12:52 pm
@joefromchicago,
Though OSD seemed confused in his reasoning, Joe, overall he did get it right that both could be used.
saab
 
  2  
Reply Mon 22 Sep, 2008 01:55 pm
@JTT,
IS should not be used according to an American professor in English.
JTT
 
  2  
Reply Mon 22 Sep, 2008 02:00 pm
@saab,
Quote:
IS should not be used according to an American professor in English.


Saab, I'm afraid that some American professors of English are not all that knowledgeable about the English language.
0 Replies
 
 

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