If my grandparent is deceased, do I refer to them as “is” or “was” my grandparent?





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How does this work when the person being referenced is deceased? Which of these is correct?




  • John was my grandfather.

  • John is my grandfather.










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  • We don't do that "was" business, not if we miss them. We turn it around. Question: Did you know John? Answer: Yes, I'm his granddaughter. It may be a Southern thing; I'm not sure.

    – KannE
    48 mins ago


















0















How does this work when the person being referenced is deceased? Which of these is correct?




  • John was my grandfather.

  • John is my grandfather.










share|improve this question























  • We don't do that "was" business, not if we miss them. We turn it around. Question: Did you know John? Answer: Yes, I'm his granddaughter. It may be a Southern thing; I'm not sure.

    – KannE
    48 mins ago














0












0








0








How does this work when the person being referenced is deceased? Which of these is correct?




  • John was my grandfather.

  • John is my grandfather.










share|improve this question














How does this work when the person being referenced is deceased? Which of these is correct?




  • John was my grandfather.

  • John is my grandfather.







possessives reference






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asked 3 hours ago









DavbogDavbog

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  • We don't do that "was" business, not if we miss them. We turn it around. Question: Did you know John? Answer: Yes, I'm his granddaughter. It may be a Southern thing; I'm not sure.

    – KannE
    48 mins ago



















  • We don't do that "was" business, not if we miss them. We turn it around. Question: Did you know John? Answer: Yes, I'm his granddaughter. It may be a Southern thing; I'm not sure.

    – KannE
    48 mins ago

















We don't do that "was" business, not if we miss them. We turn it around. Question: Did you know John? Answer: Yes, I'm his granddaughter. It may be a Southern thing; I'm not sure.

– KannE
48 mins ago





We don't do that "was" business, not if we miss them. We turn it around. Question: Did you know John? Answer: Yes, I'm his granddaughter. It may be a Southern thing; I'm not sure.

– KannE
48 mins ago










2 Answers
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You would say "John was my grandfather". This is because when he died, he essentially stopped being your grandfather, so to speak. It is like if being a grandparent of parent is an occupation, like being a carpenter. You would say
"John was a carpenter."
Likewise, you would say
"John was my grandfather."






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    You would use the word was because that means before, is means that they are currently your grandparents but because of their nonexistence it's not possible for them to be anything. They were once your grandparent.






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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      2 Answers
      2






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      active

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      active

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      1














      You would say "John was my grandfather". This is because when he died, he essentially stopped being your grandfather, so to speak. It is like if being a grandparent of parent is an occupation, like being a carpenter. You would say
      "John was a carpenter."
      Likewise, you would say
      "John was my grandfather."






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      Rahiz Khan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.

























        1














        You would say "John was my grandfather". This is because when he died, he essentially stopped being your grandfather, so to speak. It is like if being a grandparent of parent is an occupation, like being a carpenter. You would say
        "John was a carpenter."
        Likewise, you would say
        "John was my grandfather."






        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        Rahiz Khan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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          1












          1








          1







          You would say "John was my grandfather". This is because when he died, he essentially stopped being your grandfather, so to speak. It is like if being a grandparent of parent is an occupation, like being a carpenter. You would say
          "John was a carpenter."
          Likewise, you would say
          "John was my grandfather."






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          Rahiz Khan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.










          You would say "John was my grandfather". This is because when he died, he essentially stopped being your grandfather, so to speak. It is like if being a grandparent of parent is an occupation, like being a carpenter. You would say
          "John was a carpenter."
          Likewise, you would say
          "John was my grandfather."







          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          Rahiz Khan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer






          New contributor




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          answered 3 hours ago









          Rahiz KhanRahiz Khan

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              You would use the word was because that means before, is means that they are currently your grandparents but because of their nonexistence it's not possible for them to be anything. They were once your grandparent.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Dane Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                You would use the word was because that means before, is means that they are currently your grandparents but because of their nonexistence it's not possible for them to be anything. They were once your grandparent.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Dane Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  You would use the word was because that means before, is means that they are currently your grandparents but because of their nonexistence it's not possible for them to be anything. They were once your grandparent.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Dane Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.










                  You would use the word was because that means before, is means that they are currently your grandparents but because of their nonexistence it's not possible for them to be anything. They were once your grandparent.







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Dane Jacobs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






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                  answered 2 hours ago









                  Dane JacobsDane Jacobs

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