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Reegis Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

He checked their work and told them they had/have to do it again.

Hello.

Are both sentences below correct? If yes, what is the difference in meaning?

1) He checked their work and told them they had to do it again.
2) He checked their work and told them they have to do it again.
  

Top answer

Use the first one to keep the sequence of tenses: checked, told, had . CB

— Cool Breeze

  • Use the first one to keep the sequence of tenses: checked, told, had .
  • CB
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8 Answers
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Use the first one to keep the sequence of tenses: checked, told, had.

CB
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Reegis1) He checked their work and told them they had to do it again.
That is always correct.
Reegis2) He checked their work and told them they have to do it again.
That is possible if the obligation to do the work again still holds at the moment of reporting.
.
,
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fivejedjonThat is possible if the obligation to do the work again still holds at the moment of reporting.
Good point! I didn't think of that.

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I tell my learners to always backshift if they have any doubts.It's never (dangerous word) wrong.
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fivejedjon, by 'backshift' do you mean to replace reported speech with direct speech?

Reported speech:
He checked their work and told them they had to do it again.
Direct speech:
He checked their work and told them: "You have to do it again".
Thus, your conclusion.

Is it correct?
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No.

Backshifting is the changing of present-tense forms of a verb in direct speech to past-tense forms in indirect speech. when the reporting verb is past tense.
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Ahh, so it is the other way round... By the way, as the name itself suggestsEmotion: smile

Direct speech:
He checked their work a
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'Have' is correct in your reported version, but 'had' is possible.
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