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Which one is the right expression? Assuming that this friend is still great today. And for some reason, I regret not telling you earlier about it.

1) I should have told you you are a great friend.

2) I should have told you you were a great friend.

Thank you!

user313612
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1 Answers1

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Technically, there is a preference for the subordinate clause to be in the past tense if the main clause is. And "should have" is past tense. So if I were taking a test, I would certainly choose

I should have told you you were a great friend.

However, in informal speech, it is acceptable to use the present tense in such situations especially when the verb denotes an action or a state that is true in the present as well.

I wasn't sure if the Earth goes round the Sun. (Here went would be perfectly fine as well and would mean the same thing)

I should have told you you are a great friend.(Here were would mean the same thing).

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Armen Ծիրունյան
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