I was recently asked to comment on a story which started:

I had thought ‘falling in love at first sight’ is just a cliché.

I suggested it should be 'was' not 'is', but now I'm having doubts!

What do you think? Does a comma after 'thought' help?

Nick

Yes, it should be 'was'.

I had thought that "falling in love" was just a cliché, but when I met Barbara, I realised how wrong I had been.

The whole narrative is in past tense, so the main narrative is simple past for the "present moment" of the narrative -

when I met Barbara

I realised

with what I see is these days called "past perfect" (though I agree, I think of it as pluperfect, having learnt my grammar through French) for the bits which happened before the 'now' of the story -

I had thought

how wrong I had been

although I wouldn't myself balk at that last bit being

I realised how wrong I was

since you could say that s/he was still thinking that being in love is a cliché, in the present moment of going into the party and meeting Barbara.

Emma

<Added>

Although there shouldn't be a comma before 'Barbara'...

<Added>

Or rather, after 'Barbara'.

It's late.

Thanks Emma, your advice is just what I was after!

Nick

You're welcome!

Emma