Question

Which is correct:
I decided this time machine was very cool.
or
I decided the time machine was very cool.

Answer 1

I guess it depends on how youre refrencing it. If you are looking at the time machine, you would say "this time machine is very cool!" Or if you're talking. Thats what I think, hope that helps! c:

Answer 2

I decided this time machine was very cool is present tense,
I decided the time machine was very cool is past tense. They're both correct.

Answer 3

Actually, they are both cast in past tense. The only difference is in the determiner: "the" or "this." Either will work. Both are correct. The word "this" points a little more directly to the machine, whether or not you are standing right beside it. Though certainly if you were standing right there by it, you would, as crazycookie points out, naturally use "this."