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I found a grammatical error in the consent banner (the banner at the bottom): "understand" should be changed to "understood".

So the banner content would become:

By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service.

Screenshot showing the consent banner

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  • 13
    Both are grammatically correct actually.
    – Jenayah
    Mar 2, 2020 at 18:39

2 Answers 2

14

"Understand" is present tense and implies an ongoing understanding in an agreement.

I understand what you are saying.

"Understood" is past tense and acknowledges that you understood, but could be interpreted to mean that you may not understand in the future.

I understood what you were saying.

While grammatically they are both valid options, from a legal standpoint "understand" is the more correct option.

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To address the reason this probably appeared ungrammatical, note that it would be a mistake to write:

that you have read and you have understand

These wordings, which are similar in meaning to the wording you have proposed--"that you have read and understood"--are grammatical:

that you have read and you have understood

that you have read and you understood

But as RageFoxx points out, that's not quite the desired meaning.

This wording has the desired meaning and is grammatical:

that you have read and you understand

The existing wording--"that you have read and understand"--has that as its intended reading. It is likewise grammatical, because it can be read that way. (Strictly speaking, it must be read that way, since the other possible reading--"have understand"--doesn't make sense.)

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