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Tenses

Tenses

(OP)
I have a problem about what tense should be used.

For example, When I went through “Student Handbook”, I found that all students (are/were) not allowed to play in classrooms. My problem is that if I want to keep the tenses consistent, I may need to use “were”; however, this rule was true in the past, is correct at present and will be applicable to all students in the future.


When I was very young, my English teacher told me “Present tense should be used for a universal truth” What are your opinions?

RE: Tenses

Just because you "went" through the handbook does not mean the past tense needs to be used for "are/were."  I have no problem with saying something like, "I READ that such and such IS true."

DaveAtkins

RE: Tenses

(OP)
If we stick to the original sentence, what tense will you use

RE: Tenses

are

you previously WENT through the handbook and discovered that all students, ARE not allowed...

That makes perfect sense to me - IF, the student handbook is currently applicable to the students.

Now here's a situation where the opposite would be true:

I WENT through the Student Handbook of 1944, and found that students WERE not allowed to play....

If you are describing a current condition - use are.  If you are describing a past condition, use WERE.

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