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Vsuresh Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Grammar

Hi,

George said, " When I saw the advertisement it was the house I was looking for." (Direct Speech)

George said that when he saw/ had seen the advertisement it was/had been the house he had been looking for. (Indirect speech)

In line with the general practice, we change past tense in direct speech to past perfect in indirect speech. But in the example given above I feel 'saw' and 'was' can be retained in indirect speech.

I need your opinion.
  

Top answer

vsuresh Your quoted sentence is not a good one. " George said that when he saw the advertisement, he knew it was the house he (was)(had been) looking for. [Y] (Indirect speech) In line with the general practice, we change past tense in direct speech to past perfect in indirect speech.

— Canadian45

  • vsuresh Your quoted sentence is not a good one.
  • " George said that when he saw the advertisement, he knew it was the house he (was)(had been) looking for.
  • [Y] (Indirect speech) In line with the general practice, we change past tense in direct speech to past perfect in indirect speech.
  • I don't agree with the unfortunate habit of backshifting all the verbs in reported speech.
  • Backshifting can change the meaning, so I would choose verbs to express the meaning I want.
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4 Answers
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vsuresh Your quoted sentence is not a good one.
It should be "When I saw the advertisement, I knew it was the house I (was)(had been) looking for."
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vsureshin the example given above I feel 'saw' and 'was' can be retained in indirect speech.
I agree.

CJ
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Thank you very much for the changes you have made.
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