He was already rich. VS He is already rich.

[sadra1400]

He was already rich. VS He is already rich.

I don't understand the difference between the two sentences above.

 

[Tarheel]

They say different things. It depends on context which should be used.

 

[emsr2d2]

He was already rich - "already" refers to a time before the time of writing.
He is already rich - "already" refers to any time before right now.

 

[sadra1400]

He was already rich - "already" refers to a time before the time of writing.
He is already rich - "already" refers to any time before right now.

Sorry.
The meaning of 'Already' in the first example is 'before', and in the second is 'now'. Am I right?

 

[Tarheel]

Sorry.
The meaning of 'already' in the first example is 'before', and in the second is 'now'. Am I right?

The word "already" refers to the time beforehand in either case.

 

[sadra1400]

The word "already" refers to the time beforehand in either case.

Could you explain more? I'm baffled.

 

[emsr2d2]

Let's say we're talking about the year 2000. I could say that my uncle was already rich in 2000. It tells us nothing about his level of wealth now. He might have lost every penny in 2001, or any time before today, or he might still be rich.

If I say that he is already rich, I must be talking about now because I used the present tense.

 

[5jj]

He was already rich. VS He is already rich.

I don't understand the difference between the two sentences above.

It's the normal difference between the past and present tenses.

 

[jutfrank]

He was already rich - "already" refers to a time before the time of writing.

You've made a slip-up here.

You mean 'before the past point in time marked by was'.

 

[emsr2d2]

You've made a slip-up here.

You mean 'before the past point in time marked by was'.

Oops! I should have said "before the time being written about".

 

[sadra1400]

Let's say we're talking about the year 2000. I could say that my uncle was already rich in 2000. It tells us nothing about his level of wealth now. He might have lost every penny in 2001, or any time before today, or he might still be rich.

If I say that he is already rich, I must be talking about now because I used the present tense.

Sorry again.
What is the difference between these two sentences below? Does 'Already' show surprise or something has happened before now?
1) My uncle was already rich in 2000.
2) My uncle was rich in 2000.

 

[Tarheel]

"My uncle was rich in 2000" suggests that he is not rich now.

"My uncle was already rich in 2000" compared to what? What's it a response to? Who is supposed to be surprised?