A tense problem confusing me for a long time, will it be ambiguous to say "he said someone is"

Question

A tense problem confusing me for a long time, will it be ambiguous to say "he said someone is"

For example, I want to say:

Joseph said yesterday: "Henry is the helmsman Hong Kong needs".

When I report what he said, I type:

Joseph said yesterday that Henry is the helmsman Hong Kong needs.

I type two tenses in the sentence, the past tense making sure that Joseph said the idea yesterday, and the present tense making sure Henry is always the helmsman HK needs.

Is it correct?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

In my opinion, it's correct. The assumption is that even though Joseph said it yesterday, Henry continues today to be the helmsman Hong Kong needs, as you say.

Of course the rule is that even with this meaning, it is never incorrect to backshift, and use "Henry was." It's your choice.

Tszming · Answer

thank you very much avangi, i agree with u that it is okay to say he said it is,

I read through many grammar websites, and there is a rule of "usually true or facts". For other users in this forum who have the same confusion I had, I would like to type my conclusion here.

for example, he said: "the sun rises from the east everyday"

because it is the fact that the sun rises from the east everyday, so in reported speech we can say:

he said the sun rises from the east everyday.

because the statement on the sun is always true.

also,

He said: "my name is william"

it is okay to say in a reported speech: he said his name was william.

but it may cause confusion because it may imply that he has a new name now.

so it is also okay to say that: he said his name is william.

so everyone knows his name is still and always william.

the same rule implies to situation that will happen in the future.

for example:

Henry Tang said that: "I will officially announce his candidacy for the Chief Executive election by the end of this month".

If he hasn't announced his candidacy yet, it will be: Henry Tang said he will officially announce his candidacy for the Chief Executive election by the end of this month.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Your overall understanding is correct. Note the advice you got above -- you can always backshift in reported speech if you want to, but you don't have to in the circumstances you describe.

HOWEVER - please note that the correct use of English requires capital letters. Please pay attention to that as you write further posts here. (Teachers may question your seriousness in learning English if you don't bother with little things like that. Mistakes are common, but at least try to follow the conventions.)

A tense problem confusing me for a long time, will it be ambiguous to say "he said someone is"

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