Back-shift the tenses or not?
Hi. Do we have to back-shift the tenses in a sentence where there is what looks like an opinion of some sort that seems to have a tiny, small or possibly greater possibility of being true in the time we live in (according to the person reading it)? The example sentence below is made-up to ask a question and what it says probably makes no sense. Should we back-shift the tenses underlined?
eg,
He said people grew (had grown) up drinking at least one quart of water a day will (would) have less digestive problem later on.
Top answer
anonymous He said people who grew (had grown) up drinking at least one quart of water a day will (would) have less fewer digestive problem s later on. You have not provided the direct quotation of which this is the back-shift, so I'll have to make some assumptions. " (indirect).
- anonymous He said people who grew (had grown) up drinking at least one quart of water a day will (would) have less fewer digestive problem s later on.
- You have not provided the direct quotation of which this is the back-shift, so I'll have to make some assumptions.
- " (indirect).
- " (direct) becomes "He said ...
- " (indirect).
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anonymousHe said people who grew (had grown) up drinking at least one quart of water a day will (would) havelessfewer digestive problems later on.
You have not provided the direct quotation of which this is the back-shift, s
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