Exceptions regarding Past Simple in Reported Speech

Question

Hi everybody, can you help me with the following, please? In my grammar book I have: 'That was the best ice cream soda I ever tasted', which in reported speech becomes- according to the keys to exercises I have - He said that that was the best ice-cream soda he had ever tasted. Another one is 'That was a great game of golf', which becomes He said that that had been a great game of golf. I can't see why in the first example was doesn't go back to had been, as the general rule shows... Is there an exception to the rule?

Philip · Accepted Answer

I think it wouldn't be natural for me in the second sentence to say 'had been' (using just the verb to be), but that is probably optional.  At any rate, your first sentence does change 'I ever tasted' to 'he had ever tasted'.

Regards · Answer

allthewayanimeAnother one is 'That was a great game of golf', which becomes He said that that ~~had been~~ a great game of golf.

Hi,

He said he had had a great time of playing golf.

Regards

CalifJim · Answer

allthewayanimeaccording to the keys to exercises

That's the problem. Sometimes the answer key gives a suggested answer, but that doesn't mean it's the only right answer. Usually you can either backshift was to had been or leave it as was in these cases.

He said that that [was / had been] the best ice-cream soda he had ever tasted.

He said that that [was / had been] a great game of golf.

Most native speakers leave was as was. (Same for were, of course.)

It's a good idea to double check any answer key suggestions that seem strange to you by asking here on the forum.

CJ

Exceptions regarding Past Simple in Reported Speech

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