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We can use this sentence "I never knew you liked dogs" .

But I dont get it why do not we use " I never knew you like dogs " instead of the first sentence.

Talha Özden
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2 Answers2

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Expressions like I never knew, I never thought, I never suspected are all constructed in the past tense even though the speaker generally goes on to describe their implications for the present. In such constructions, the verb in the subordinate clause is expressed in the past tense in what's known as backshifting.

To say I never knew is another way of saying I didn't know but with more emphasis, as if to express some surprise at the turn of events.

So if you were really surprised to find someone who avoided dogs showing affection to your dog, you might well say:

I never knew (that) you liked dogs.

rather than just I didn't know...

Because the main verb knew is in the past tense, you backshift the verb in the subordinate clause from the present tense to the past, even though it still holds true.

Note that didn't know can be followed either by like or liked. As is frequently the case, here backshifting is optional.

You will find numerous explanations of backshifting online, including at:

https://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/topic/backshift-and-reporting-verbs

https://www.thoughtco.com/backshift-sequence-of-tense-rule-in-grammar-1689017

Confusion about "Backshift" of Verbs in Indirect Speech (To Kill a Mockingbird)

Ronald Sole
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  • Okey I got it . But I still don't understand some examples like this : "I hurt myself today to see if I still feel " . Why did we use "feel" instead of felt ? – Talha Özden Aug 12 '18 at 10:13
  • @TalhaÖzden Your example is equivalent to saying: I bought a sandwich this morning to eat later at the concert. The purpose of buying a sandwich (in the past) was to eat it later (whether present or future). I never ..... is a way of using the past tense to talk about a present state. It's a way of saying I am not aware that.... – Ronald Sole Aug 12 '18 at 11:20
  • I watched a lesson about sequence of tenses( past tense) at the end of the lesson teacher said "you can use present in the R.C. if it is still true . " and gave couple of examples "Bill said you are getting married " , "She said she works with Carlos " . I don't get it, is that rule true ? if it is , can we use "past tense" instead of "present tense" in those examples . – Talha Özden Aug 14 '18 at 00:14
  • Yes you can. It depends on the context. The sentence could be: Bill said you are getting married (in church) or ** Bill said you were getting married (until you discovered that your divorce papers were not finalised). Whether you use present tense or past tense depends on the situation. Both are grammatically legitimate. Google backshifting for explanations and examples. – Ronald Sole Aug 14 '18 at 15:24
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Because you need to backshift - if the main clause is in the past tense, the subordinate clause almost always needs to be in the past tense too (with a few exceptions).

A: I like dogs! I thought I told you that I liked dogs.

B: Nope, you never did. I didn't know you liked dogs. Now I know that you like dogs.

Dr Sitecore
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