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Caeser Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

for mister micauber please

Sir, I am a bit confused that how simple past in reported indirect speech gets converted to present perfect tense (not to simple present) in reported direct speech in,

St. Patrick said, "All the snakes have been driven out of Ireland, and they have swum to England".
  

Top answer

Think about the real situation, Caesar-- not the prescriptive grammar. St. Patrick drove out the snakes himself.

— Mister Micawber

  • Think about the real situation, Caesar-- not the prescriptive grammar.
  • St.
  • Patrick drove out the snakes himself.
  • He is announcing that fact, I presume.
  • I am neither Catholic nor Irish, however, so I may have my facts wrong.
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3 Answers
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Think about the real situation, Caesar-- not the prescriptive grammar. St. Patrick drove out the snakes himself. He is announcing that fact, I presume. I am neither Catholic nor Irish, however, so I may have my facts wrong. How would you convert the statement to direct speech, Caesar?
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MM you are rght that St Patrick drove out all the snakes himself, Can we look at it like this,

St Patrick said, " All the snakes are driven out of Ireland to swim to England."

If not than I think we have look at it with the same perspective as yours'.
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There's no reason it cannot be cast in the present, I suppose, but the swim clause doesn't work--

St Patrick said, "All the snakes are driven out of Ireland and have swum / are swimming to England."

My present perfect is still my gut reaction, however, Caesar.
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