0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Case of incorrect reported speech? why not past perfect?
Hi.
Can you please tell me why the underlined part is not in past perfect? I figure that only tense in the original quote could be in is past tense and it seems to me that you have to back-shift the tense to present perfect when reporting back at a later time.
He told us that he received the information form people who had been in the meeting.
I think this should be the correct way to report back what could have been the correct content of the original quote. I think we can't back shift the following underlined part or could we?
He told us that he had received the information from people who had been in the meeting.
Can you please tell me why the underlined part is not in past perfect? I figure that only tense in the original quote could be in is past tense and it seems to me that you have to back-shift the tense to present perfect when reporting back at a later time.
He told us that he received the information form people who had been in the meeting.
I think this should be the correct way to report back what could have been the correct content of the original quote. I think we can't back shift the following underlined part or could we?
He told us that he had received the information from people who had been in the meeting.
Top answer
The original is fine (except 'from' instead of 'form'). He received the information from the people after they left the meeting.
- The original is fine (except 'from' instead of 'form').
- He received the information from the people after they left the meeting.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
.
The original is fine (except 'from' instead of 'form'). He received the information from the people after they left the meeting.
.
The original is fine (except 'from' instead of 'form'). He received the information from the people after they left the meeting.
.
00
Thank you.
I wrote:
He told us that he received the information form people who had been in the meeting.
If we partition the setence into two and just use the first part, I think the past perfect is the only correct one.
He told us that he had received the information.
I think since we have the latter part and the situation is that
I wrote:
He told us that he received the information form people who had been in the meeting.
If we partition the setence into two and just use the first part, I think the past perfect is the only correct one.
He told us that he had received the information.
I think since we have the latter part and the situation is that
00
.
No; the dependent clause ('the latter part') takes structural priority.
.
No; the dependent clause ('the latter part') takes structural priority.
.
00
Thank you so much again. Can you please tell me what is reported speech for what John has said?
Hi. John, where did you get that information?
John: I received the information from people who was in the meeting.
How would you report what John said at a later date?
Hi. John, where did you get that information?
John: I received the information from people who was in the meeting.
How would you report what John said at a later date?
00
.
John: "I received the information from people who were in the meeting."
John said that he received the information from people that had been in the meeting.
.
John: "I received the information from people who were in the meeting."
John said that he received the information from people that had been in the meeting.
.
00
Thank you so much again. I think this is what I think.
You wrote:
John: "I received the information from people who were in the meeting."
John said that he received the information from people that had been in the meeting.
If this is what John said:
John: "I received the information from people who had been in the meeting."
Then report
You wrote:
John: "I received the information from people who were in the meeting."
John said that he received the information from people that had been in the meeting.
If this is what John said:
John: "I received the information from people who had been in the meeting."
Then report
00
Related Questions