I told him that you _____ out.
A) were
B) are
2006-11-06 04:42:42 · 16 answers · asked by carbonkid22 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
There are some interesting answers, but I think the only time B would be correct would be in the expression "you are out" as in "you are gay and not trying to hide it." For any other situation, even if the person is still out (of the house/office) or said to be out, the telling only referred to the point in the past when the being out was spoken of. Whereas once a gay person is "out" there's no going back in. (Well, Anne Heche, yes)
2006-11-06 11:12:59 · answer #1 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think either could be correct grammatically. The first one is past tense reflective and I'm not sure about the use of "are" here. An English teacher could explain the technicalities better than me, but pragmatically speaking, I think either would be understood to mean the same thing.
2006-11-06 04:51:47 · answer #2 · answered by lmnop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the 2nd needless to say is logically spectacular and follows a spectacular grammar in utilization. the 1st one began with a spectacular premise yet replaced into accompanied via an illogical theory that would not fliudly persist with the former. thank you for asking. Have a great day!
2016-10-15 10:53:32 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both could be correct, but they mean slightly different things. (A) means that the speaker told someone that the subject was out but has now returned. (B) means that the speaker told someone that the subject is still out.
2006-11-06 04:48:11 · answer #4 · answered by francesfarmer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Were, because you are using past tense "told", if you had said "tell" which would have to change the sentence, then you would say "are" because it would have been present tense.
2006-11-06 04:47:08 · answer #5 · answered by kimmie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
both are correct. were if you are speaking of the past tense. are if you are say speaking to someone in the same room as you, present tense, if say they just got a phone call and you were ducking it for them.
2006-11-06 04:45:36 · answer #6 · answered by sixcannonballs 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends
For example :
(on the phone)
Hi honey your father called and I told him that you are out, don't forget to call him when you get back.
(When the husband comes back home)
Hi honey, your late! your father called and I told him that you were out.
The first one the person is out at the moment, the second is talking about when someone "was" out but he is not out at the moment.
Hope this helps.
2006-11-06 05:26:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i told him you WERE out is grammatically correct since you need to maintain the same tense within one sentence. were is past tense. are is present tense. I TOLD is past tense, hence you need to stick with WERE!
2006-11-06 05:07:51 · answer #8 · answered by KAY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on if you want to say it in the present or past.
2006-11-06 06:23:00 · answer #9 · answered by Cecylia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grammatically correct is : were (because it says told)
It would only be: 'are' if you were actually stating the exact words he said eg.
I told him, "You are out!"
2006-11-06 04:46:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋