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Rotter Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
A sentence
Peter said he did the painting of the house a couple of days ago.
The above is correct.
Now Martin will tell us what Peter did.
1.Martin said Peter had done the painting of the house a couple of days ago.
Is the above fine?
Grammatically speaking, is it a sentence of indirect speech or a sentence of past perfect?
The above is correct.
Now Martin will tell us what Peter did.
1.Martin said Peter had done the painting of the house a couple of days ago.
Is the above fine?
Grammatically speaking, is it a sentence of indirect speech or a sentence of past perfect?
Top answer
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9 Answers
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When Martin talks he reports Peter's speech so it's reported speech
By the way, why not say "painted" instead of "did the painting of..."?
By the way, why not say "painted" instead of "did the painting of..."?
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Maverick88, thanks for the reply.
You want me to write the following:
Peter said he painted the house a couple of days ago.
1.Martin said Peter had painted the house a couple of days ago.
Is it fine now?
You are telling me it is a sentence of reported speech.
I just want to find out whether it is a past pe
You want me to write the following:
Peter said he painted the house a couple of days ago.
1.Martin said Peter had painted the house a couple of days ago.
Is it fine now?
You are telling me it is a sentence of reported speech.
I just want to find out whether it is a past pe
00
'Painted the house' and 'did the painting of the house' mean two different things. How do we know which meaning is intended here?
'Peter did the painting of the house' is something one might say if Peter is an artist who painted a picture of a house.
Also, if Peter is a man of many trades, like carpentry, painting, bricklaying, etc. The context could be such that it can correct
'Peter did the painting of the house' is something one might say if Peter is an artist who painted a picture of a house.
Also, if Peter is a man of many trades, like carpentry, painting, bricklaying, etc. The context could be such that it can correct
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Hi guys,
I agree that it's reported speech. Yes, the tense used is past perfect.
Clive
I agree that it's reported speech. Yes, the tense used is past perfect.
Clive
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If Martin is to tell us what Peter did, it should be, "Martin said that Peter saidthat he (had) painted the house a couple of days ago", wouldn't it?
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Well, "ago" anchors in the present, "a couple of days before the moment I'm talking to you (now)
"On the other hand, "before" means "a couple of days before the moment he told you that"
I guess it all depends on the context.
"On the other hand, "before" means "a couple of days before the moment he told you that"
I guess it all depends on the context.
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Wait a minute.
Jim, are you saying that Martin said that Peter said that he had painted the house a couple of days ago?
That's not what he told me.
Sheesh. Who can you trust these days.
MrP
Jim, are you saying that Martin said that Peter said that he had painted the house a couple of days ago?
That's not what he told me.
Sheesh. Who can you trust these days.
MrP
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