EditFast Grammar Resource: Verbs: True Statements in Present Tense

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Verbs

Using Verbs Correctly

Rule 2:
Express true statements in present tense.

Statements that are still true must be expressed in the present tense. Statements that used to be true but that are no longer true because facts or circumstances have changed should be expressed in the past tense.

Examples:

• Ancient people thought the world was flat. (not true)
• Columbus knew the world is round. (a truth)
• I noticed that the report had many typographical errors. (the errors have been corrected)
• I noticed that the report introduces many new ideas. (the report still does introduce many new ideas)