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tense inconsistency

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 3:37 am
by hanuman_2000
Sir,

Man also found that when two stones struck against each other,they produced fire.

Here the statement is about past, but the fact is still true.

So, Can we use "they produce fire " in place of "they produced fire".

Thanks.

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:57 pm
by Alan
Informally, yes. In formal/careful usage, however, tense concord requires the preterite, irrespective of applicability at the time of speaking.