I said that it was easier to talk than to act. vs I said that it is easier to...

[Sonia*]

A very sweet good evening to all and sundry ESL teachers.

I came across with a grammatical problem when I was reading a chapter titled "corrections"where I was to mark which sentence was right.

1) I said that it was easier to talk than to act.(incorrect)
2)I said that it is easier to talk than to act.(correct).

I want to know why second sentence is right for according to the rules of narration,I guess first sentence right but in the book second sentence has been given correct and first one incorrect.Please help me to sought out this problem,I would really appreciate your efforts.

[Cerberus™]

I am not an expert on this, but I have been taught that general truths or expressions such as this can be either in past or present when the main clause is in the past tense: both are correct.

To follow the normal sequence of tenses , i.e. to put the subordinate clause in the same tense as the main clause, is most regular, or so I have been taught. To put it in the present while the main clause is in the past is vivid, but possible. The latter can only be done if the subordinate clause does not describe a situation that is itself fully in the past; general truths are usually not really in the past. But the present is not compulsory here.

I guess your book on grammar differs here from mine. Don't spend too much time on this matter, I don't think it is considered very important.

[Hieupt]

Idiomatic expression: It's easier said than done!
_________________
Thank you very much,
Hieu Phan.

P/s: Please just correct if I'm wrong somewhere!

[Pokemon]

In ancient times people thought that the earth was flat. They didn't know that it is round.

By not observing the sequence of tenses you can imply that you don't share the opinion.