I thought you were an architect.

[Shaky]

I thought you were an architect.
Is it possible to say:
I thought you are an architect.

[RudnyBR]

I guess not.

Because if you THOUGHT something, you did in the past.

If you say I THINK + YOU ARE, that's fine.

If that person IS NOT AN ARCHITECT but you thought he/she was, then you must use both in the past.
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Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

[James M]

[RudnyBR]

James, I don't agree with

"(i) Oh, I thought that you WERE an architect, and it seems that I am right. You ARE an architect, aren't you. "

As you say IT SEEMS THAT I AM RIGHT, you then should have said I THINK YOU ARE AN ARCHITECT.

I guess you say I THOUGHT, it means you've stopped thinking that way. That's why we should use the past after saying
"I thought this, I thought that..."

My reason for saying that is I believe that if you stop believing that something is true or stop thinking that something is true it's because the opposite was shown to be true.

I mean, if I say

Judging on first appearances, I think you are a doctor. By the way, are you?

And if you say:

Judging on first appearances, I thought you are a doctor, but you're an athlete.

That's the way I think, however I'm still looking forward to what will be said by a language professional.
_________________
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

[Beeesneees]

Oh, I though you were an architect. I'm surprised to find you aren't one.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[James M]

Thank you, Rudny, for your thoughtful answer. And many thanks to Language Coach Beeesneees for a language professional's answer.

James

[Esl_Expert]

Actually, the sentence 'I thought you were an architect' doesn't tell us whether the speaker thinks differently now or not. A lot depends on intonation and context:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A: I'm a financial analyst.
B: Really? I thought you were an architect! I wonder where I got that idea.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Small talk at a large party for the grand opening of a new building. Many guests don't know each other very well.)

X: This is a fantastic building, isn't it?
Z: I'm glad you like it -- especially since I'm the one who designed it.
X: Ah HA! I thought you were the architect, but wasn't sure (before now). You must be very proud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Basically, we always use a past form in the clause following 'I thought' no matter whether what you thought in the past is the same now or not. This does NOT have the same tense flexibility that a reported speech sentence sometimes has.

__________________________________________________________
"Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." ~ John F. Kennedy

[Take_It_Easy]

this difference of the logic of languages always make me think. It`s just so interesting, in my language we would never say I thought you were an architect we do say i thought you are an architect. Therefore when i started learning English it was so difficult to get used to the way how the english think..

[James M]

That was a very interesting comment, Take It Easy. And many thanks to ESL Expert for the informed answer.

James

[Esl_Expert]

Thank you, James. Of course, my primary intent was to confirm for Rudny what you'd already posted.
:)

_______________________________________________________________________________________
“I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, so I ask you to confirm me with your prayers.” ~ Gerald R. Ford

[RudnyBR]

You're welcome, James.

ESL Expert, I think there's a slight difference between THINKING THAT SOMETHING IS A FACT and BEING CERTAIN THAT SOMETHING IS A FACT.

Anyway, I agree with you, great explanation by the way.
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Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

[Esl_Expert]