Mixing Tenses.

(1) No, Peren. "Liked" means mebbe now he likes you

(2) More complicated but gen princ still applies here

They can both be taken to mean that he presently likes me, but the second one can be taken to mean that he liked me in the past, especially without any further context. The first one is more precise.


In this sentence you have to keep your tenses consistent, "he didn't like the way I spoke."


That's generally true. In your first instance, however, the sentence is reported speech, much like a quote. Sticklers would still insist on using the past tense, but the rule isn't set in stone, so to speak.

In your second instance, if you were reporting what he had said, then you could have used speak or spoke.

"He said he didn't like the way I speak/spoke," with the past tense having ambiguity.


You're welcome.

Blue gotta give you credit, wish you had a profile

Forgive if you've already supplied one, I'm very old

Thank you very very much, but I'm still a little confused as to why in the second example I have to use past tense for speak. Could it not be assumed that the way I speak has always been?

CONTEXT sets the tense.

Did you get the job?
No.
Why?
He didn't like the way I speak.

Were you hired?
No.
Why?
He didn't like the way I spoke.

I'm struggling to see a difference.

You're right. I had to read it again. You can use the present tense when referring to the way you speak.

In the first sentence I didn't get hired because of the way I speak (always).

In the second sentence it could mean that I didn't get hired because of the way I speak (always), or it could mean that I didn't get hired because of the way I spoke at a past particular time.

Thanks. I appreciate it. And yeah, I get that part. I just don't get what PUNKEY was trying to say with the questions. The first answer could easily be the second question's too.

I still do it

Mebbe speak better now


Edited to remark you guys were quicker than I