Mike is a teacher now, but he is/was former worker.
要说他以前是工人,如果有了“former以前的”,是否可以不用was,而用is呢?
如果没有former,当然要用was.
但是因为已经有了former表明是以前,还需要用was吗?是否可以用is呢?
Mike is a teacher now, but he is/was former worker. (错误)
Mike is a teacher now, but he was formerly a worker. (正确)
例句:Mr Owen was formerly a partner in a London firm. 欧文先生以前是伦敦一家公司的合伙人。(摘自《麦克米伦高阶英汉双解词典》p.815)