0
Sb70012 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Grammar: second conditional sentence in indirect speech
Catherine: "If I lost my job, I would be in serious trouble."
1. Catherine said that if she lost her job, she would be in serious trouble.
2. Catherine said that if she had lost her job, she would have been in serious trouble.
“If I were rich, I would buy a mansion in Beverly Hills,” she said.
3. She said (that) if she were rich, she would buy a mansion in Beverly Hills.
4. She said (that) if she had been rich, she would have bought a mansion in Beverly Hills
Hi,
When we report a second conditional sentence in indirect speech, back-shifting is optional or necessary?
Thank you.
1. Catherine said that if she lost her job, she would be in serious trouble.
2. Catherine said that if she had lost her job, she would have been in serious trouble.
“If I were rich, I would buy a mansion in Beverly Hills,” she said.
3. She said (that) if she were rich, she would buy a mansion in Beverly Hills.
4. She said (that) if she had been rich, she would have bought a mansion in Beverly Hills
Hi,
When we report a second conditional sentence in indirect speech, back-shifting is optional or necessary?
Thank you.
Top answer
1. & 3.
- 1.
- & 3.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
0
sb70012When we report a second conditional sentence in indirect speech, back-shifting is optional or necessary?Interesting. They both offer problems. #1 and #3 could be mistaken for backshifted first conditional; #2 and #4 could be mistaken for backshifted 3rd conditional (which does not change).
0
Related Questions