Back-shifting

Question

Hi teachers, is back shifting required here:

I though we would meet to show you the topic I will (or would) be presenting next week.

I thought we would meet so I can (or could) show you the topic I will (or would) be presenting next week.

Is it optional to backshift in both sentences?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

AnonymousIs it optional to backshift in both sentences?

It depends on the wider context in which you uttered those words.

Has the meeting been mentioned before, or are you suggesting a meeting?
Are you talking about a meeting that has already taken place, about one that is just beginning, or about one that will take place in the future?

Anonymous · Answer

fivejedjon AnonymousIs it optional to backshift in both sentences?It depends on the wider context in which you uttered those words.Has the meeting been mentioned before, or are you suggesting a meeting?Are you talking about a meeting that has already taken place, about one that is just beginning, or about one that will take place in the future?

Thanks for your reply, teacher.

I am suggesting a meeting that will take place in the future. What is the case here.

I am sure if I was talking about a meeting that has already taken place, it would be better to back shift. Correct me if I am wrong?

But I am not sure what to do when it's in the future because I have been told that I can back shift or not, and some prefer to backshift even if it is in the future. Is it OK to backshift when talking about the future? Would you expand on that please?

Fivejedjon · Answer

AnonymousI am suggesting a meeting that will take place in the future.

In that case, these are possible:

I thought we would meet so I can show you the topic I will be presenting next week.
I thought we would meet so I could show you the topic I will be presenting next week.
I thought we would meet so I could show you the topic I would be presenting next week.

I think I would be unlikely to say/write the third.

Anonymous · Answer

fivejedjonIn that case, these are possible:

Thanks, teacher.

fivejedjonI think I would be unlikely to say/write the third.

But all three including the third are grammatically correct for an event that will take place in the future, right?

Please tell me if what I have below is correct, for each of the examples:

1. Back shifting is a must for events that are in the past or have happened.
2. Back shifting is only optional for events that will take place is the future,
3. Back shifting is correct for events in the future.
4. A lot of people/teachers do suggest back shifting even for the future

Also, how about these examples, which are all events that will take place in the future:

- I though you would/will be presenting next week.
- I though we would/will be meeting tomorrow.
- You said you will/would pick me up from school tomorrow.
- I thought we were/are meeting tomorrow.

Is back shifting optional for each of them since they are all events that will take place in future?

I hope what I have explained is correct. Please confirm what I said. Thanks in advance, teacher.

Fivejedjon · Answer

AnonymousAlso, how about these examples, which are all events that will take place in the future:- I though you would/will be presenting next week.- I though we would/will be meeting tomorrow.- You said you will/would pick me up from school tomorrow.- I thought we were/are meeting tomorrow.

The use of the past tense 'I thought' suggests to me that the speaker no longer thinks this way. This suggests that the events will not take place. If that is the case, backshifting is mandatory in the first two and the fourth.

In the third, backshifting is optional if 'you' are still planning to pick up the speaker, obligatory if 'you' have changed your mind.

Anonymous · Answer

fivejedjonThe use of the past tense 'I thought' suggests to me that the speaker no longer thinks this way. This suggests that the events will not take place.

I think I understand - Would that be because the situation is not valid or still true, in which 'thought' suggests that the speaker no longer thinks the event will take place (as you said), and hence, backshifting is required?

Also, the word 'said' does not suggest that the speaker no longer thinks this way (as 'though), and it just reports a speech that may be in the past or future. Am I correct?

So backshifting is basically optional if a situation is still true, right?

Anonymous · Answer

fivejedjon AnonymousAlso, how about these examples, which are all events that will take place in the future:- I though you would/will be presenting next week.- I though we would/will be meeting tomorrow.- You said you will/would pick me up from school tomorrow.- I thought we were/are meeting tomorrow.The use of the past tense 'I thought' suggests to me that the speaker no longer thinks this way. This suggests that the events will not take place. If that is the case, backshifting is mandatory in the first two and the fourth.In the third, backshifting is optional if 'you' are still planning to pick up the speaker, obligatory if 'you' have changed your mind.

Hi teacher, would you please comment on my previous post and tell me if what I said is correct!

Thanks a lot!

Back-shifting

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