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Vsuresh Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Grammar

The Minister said that he was going to London on 29 November.

This line is in the newspaper dated 20 November.

Here I think use of past continuous tense to refer to future seems odd to me.

Is my doubt meaningful? if yes, how should I get it right?

suresh
  

Top answer

The Minister said that he was going to London on 29 November. -- The verb regresses to that form because it is reported speech .

— Mister Micawber

  • The Minister said that he was going to London on 29 November.
  • -- The verb regresses to that form because it is reported speech .
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5 Answers
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The Minister said that he was going to London on 29 November.

Here I think use of past continuous tense to refer to future seems odd to me.-- The verb regresses to that form because it is reported speech.
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Thank you very much, sir!

suresh
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Instead of reporting it as the Minister said he was going...... we can rather prefer to report - The Minister has said that he is going....

Sir, is my reasoning right?
Thank you

suresh
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You can use either, Suresh.
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Thank you very much, Mister Micawber.

suresh
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