Difference between だったように and のように


What is the implied meaning of using the past tense だった before ように?

This is an example sentence in the 完全マスターN3 grammar book:

> 母親が明るい人だったように、その娘たちも性格が明るい。

My attempt at translation is:

> Those girls have a bright personality like their mother did when she was
> young.

Since it's in the past tense I assume it is talking about when their mother
was a girl.

If it was talking about their mother's personality now, I would say something
like:

> その娘たちは母親のように性格が明るい。

Is this a correct interpretation of the implied meaning of the two sentences?




> 母親が明るい人だったように、その娘たちも性格が明るい。

This sentence probably implies their mother is a deceased person.

Technically speaking, it could mean their mother is alive but has grown to be
a non-cheerful person, but I wouldn't say that's the common interpretation.




> 母親が明るい人だったように、その娘たちも性格が明るい。

This sentence probably implies their mother is a deceased person.

Technically speaking, it could mean their mother is alive but has grown to be
a non-cheerful person, but I wouldn't say that's the common interpretation.

