grammar - Present tense in Flashback story for something that is still true now?


I'm wondering whether I should use the present tense for a descriptive statement but in a past context. For example:



(1) I went to the zoo and saw a giraffe last week.


(2) A giraffe is a mammal with long neck.


(3) It is the first time I see that animal with my own eyes.



Statement (2) is a description of a giraffe in general, not the specific one in the zoo, so is it correct to use is?


Statement (3) is an event that is still true now, so should I use is and see?


I'm not native speaker so forgive me if the question is very obvious to others.



Answer



You're giving a descriptive account of a past event, despite the facts still being true, it would be advisable to use the past tense of verbs. Your 2nd statement is fine, as you're presenting someone with the character of a Giraffe, in case they don't know about the animal but after that the account relates back to the past event i.e your experience at the zoo. You saw the animal with your own eyes and it was the first time that you had this experience


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