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Laborious Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Back-shifting of tenses in Reported speech
Hi beloved teachers,
Indirect- This is the last time I am hearing this from your mouth, Jason's mother said to him in anger.
Reported- Jason's mother told him in anger that that was the last time she was hearing that from his mouth.
- "Never hate anyone, but don't care for those who deserve to be hated." said John.
(I think this is a proverb/saying, so It it necessary to back-shift the tenses to past simple? Or could we retain the original tenses in the reported speech? )
For ex- what would be the best way of reporting the above sentence?
-John said that we should never hate anyone, but shouldn't care for those who deserve to be hated.
Or
-john said not to hate anyone, but not to care for those who deserve to be hated.
- Someone has rightly said, "be up and doing." (How should we report this sentence, please?)
- Dave: "Love is the seventh sense that destroys all the six senses." [Teaches, I don't think this is a saying or a proverb, if so, then how would be report this ?]
Thank you.
Laborious
Indirect- This is the last time I am hearing this from your mouth, Jason's mother said to him in anger.
Reported- Jason's mother told him in anger that that was the last time she was hearing that from his mouth.
- "Never hate anyone, but don't care for those who deserve to be hated." said John.
(I think this is a proverb/saying, so It it necessary to back-shift the tenses to past simple? Or could we retain the original tenses in the reported speech? )
For ex- what would be the best way of reporting the above sentence?
-John said that we should never hate anyone, but shouldn't care for those who deserve to be hated.
Or
-john said not to hate anyone, but not to care for those who deserve to be hated.
- Someone has rightly said, "be up and doing." (How should we report this sentence, please?)
- Dave: "Love is the seventh sense that destroys all the six senses." [Teaches, I don't think this is a saying or a proverb, if so, then how would be report this ?]
Thank you.
Laborious
Top answer
Laborious Reported- Jason's mother told him in anger that that was the last time she was hearing that from his mouth. ) don't transcribe well to reported speech. It loses impact, and is better left as direct speech.
- Laborious Reported- Jason's mother told him in anger that that was the last time she was hearing that from his mouth.
- ) don't transcribe well to reported speech.
- It loses impact, and is better left as direct speech.
- " said John.
- We usually transcribe imperatives to infinitive forms in indirect speech, or use "we" instead of "you" as the subject John said never to hate anyone, but care for those who deserve to be hated.
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3 Answers
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LaboriousReported- Jason's mother told him in anger that that was the last time she was hearing that from his mouth.Somehow, things like this (shouting, yelling, etc.) don't transcribe well to reported speech. It loses impact, and is better left as direct speech.
Laborious- "Never hate anyone, but don't care for those who deserve to b
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I really have no words to express my thanks to you. Thank you very much for your informative reply!
Laborious
Laborious
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