"the book he held" vs "the book he holds"

Question

"the book he held" vs "the book he holds"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'The book he holds' is in the present tense, indicating that he currently holds the book. 'The book he held' is in the past tense, indicating that he held the book at a specific point in the past.

Last Updated: April 11, 2024

This phrase is used to describe a past action or situation where he held the book at a specific point in time.

Examples:

The book he held was a rare first edition.
I remember the book he held during the meeting.

Alternatives:

the book he was holding
the book he had
the book he possessed
the book he carried
the book he had in his hands

This phrase is used to describe a current action or situation where he is holding the book.

Examples:

I can see the book he holds in his hands.
The book he holds is his favorite novel.

Alternatives:

the book he is holding
the book he is currently holding
the book he has
the book he possesses
the book he carries

Answer 1

the book he held

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

the book he holds

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.