I am cofused about the tense in a sentence.
Could you help me, gentlemen and beauties?
I just read a sentence: "Shaker said he believes that presidential greetings have helped Americans know more about Ramadan and Muslim Americans"
Since this sentence is past tense, so why the writer use"Shaker said he believes..." , but not "Shaker said he believed"?

Thanks a lot

Question

I am cofused about the tense in a sentence.
Could you help me, gentlemen and beauties?
I just read a sentence: "Shaker said he believes that presidential greetings have helped Americans know more about Ramadan and Muslim Americans"
Since this sentence is past tense, so why the writer use"Shaker said he believes..." , but not "Shaker said he believed"?

Thanks a lot

Answer

Bcoz the statement was told in the past so said has been used and he (the person) still believes in that hence it is a present tense and believes has been used in the sentence .

I hope you understand if not please let me know

Answer

He is not saying that shaker  believed it in the past he is saying "shaker believes past presidential greetings etc have helped Americans know more about Ramadan and about Muslim Americans"

the previous past presidential overseas tours and state visits etc from overseas representatives​ to America is PAST TENSE
but SHAKER'S believes are Present tense.

Answer

Hi. This sentence implies that now, in the present, Shaker believes "something" and these are the presidential greetings [which happened in the past] have helped Americans know more about Ramadan and Muslim Americans. Hope this helps.

Answer

Thanks for everyone.
I thought the tense of clause must be the same as the main clause. Now i undersatnd.

Answer

It's a reported speech sentence. So you use the past (said, told) and the speech is in present tense.

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