I said I'll think about it

Question

Since "said" is past tense, shouldn't the sentence be written as "I said I would think about it"?Yet, I've heard people say, "I said I'll think about it."Why is that so?I'm really confused.Pete

Usenet · Accepted Answer

Pete (Email Removed) wrote on 22 Nov 2003:
[nq:1]Since "said" is past tense, shouldn't the sentence be written as "I said I would think about it"? Yet, I've heard people say, "I said I'll think about it." Why is that so? I'm really confused.[/nq]
There is an optional backshift rule that allows sentences like "I said that I {will/would} think about it".
Are you able to look at a good grammar of English in your local library? Here is a URL that gives an explanation of the backshift rule:

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Since "said" is past tense, shouldn't the sentence be written as "I said I would think about it"? Yet, I've heard people say, "I said I'll think about it." Why is that so? I'm really confused. Pete[/nq]
Suppose you write it ''I said ''I'll think about it'' ''?
John Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Since "said" is past tense, shouldn't the sentence be written ... about it." Why is that so? I'm really confused. Pete[/nq]
[nq:1]Suppose you write it ''I said ''I'll think about it'' ''?[/nq]
John, I have a plentiful supply of "quotation marks" here - would you like to "borrow" a few?

David
==

Usenet · Answer

On 21 Nov 2003 17:56:58 GMT, CyberCypher
[nq:1]There is an optional backshift rule that allows sentences like "I said that I {will/would} think about it". Are you ... grammar of English in your local library? Here is a URL that gives an explanation of the backshift rule: [/nq]
Thank you so much for the link. I had done a search in the internet on this topic before I asked about it here. Most of the websites didn't touch on the optional backshift.
However, I'm again confused because I was taught years ago that in reported speech it must be "She said that she was 21" even though she is still 21. Is it possible that there is difference in usage between American and UK English?
However, in direct speech it was okay to say, "I knew Bill Gates is a billionaire" or "I knew that the sun rises in the east."

Is the website that you gave me an American website? I think so but I'm not sure.
Pete

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Since "said" is past tense, shouldn't the sentence be written as "I said I would think about it"? Yet, I've heard people say, "I said I'll think about it." Why is that so?[/nq]
Because you've asked me for that game 50 times this week alone, that's why!
Oh, sorry. I thought you were Opus Jr. for a second.

That is how I read your subject line, though with implied quotation marks. I said, "I'll think about it." I.e. so stop asking already!

However, "I said I'll think about" may also be used to describe the situation you envision. I.e.
Q: "What did you say when he asked you for a date?"

A1: "I said I'll think about it." ... OR
A2: "I said I'd think about it."
Both sound correct to my ears, unless she's really just blowing him off and doesn't intend to think about it at all, in which case ... I'm getting sidetracked.
They both mean more or less the same thing. The first one implies that you're not done thinking about it yet. It would be strange to hear, "I said I'll think about it. After thinking about it, I told him to get lost." The second one doesn't say whether you're still thinking about it. It would NOT be strange to hear, "I said I'd think about it. I still don't know whether I should accept."

Opus the Penguin (that's my real email addy)
You snipped my sig!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]However, I'm again confused because I was taught years ago that in reported speech it must be "She said that she was 21" even though she is still 21.[/nq]
Actually, she's only 16. That's why you're in this mess, Slappy!

Seriously, to confuse matters, you CAN say "She said that she is 21" if the conversation has recently taken place.
E.g. "I asked that girl over there how old she is and she said that she is 21."
You could use the same sentence an hour later.
But a day later, at another gathering of the same people, you'd say, "I asked that girl over there how old she was and she said that she was 21."
[nq:1]Is it possible that there is difference in usage between American and UK English?[/nq]
Doubtful. American and UK English are virtually identical at every point.
Ok ... I'm just messing with you!

Opus the Penguin (that's my real email addy)
You snipped my sig!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Here is a URL that gives an explanation of the backshift rule: http://tinyurl.com/w0ch[/nq]
I have skimmed that page, and to me it looks more like a set of examples than a comprehensive explanation.
There is an excellent exposition of "sequence of tenses", and the related issue of "aspect", in George O. Curme's English Grammar , used paperback copies of which can be bought on the internet for less than the shipping postage would probably be.

In very short form: when a past indicative occurs in the principal proposition, a past-tense form normally is required in the following secondary proposition:
He says he wants to finish before his father comes home.

He said he wanted to finish before his father came home.

But there are several exceptions. Those are:
1. habitual, customary, characteristic, or universally truesecondary propositions;
Columbus demonstrated that the world is round.
He didn't know that nettles sting.
The old man said he never misses a home game.
2. propositions with a generality that extends from the pastto the present (for which we use the present perfect);

He said that honesty has always been the best policy.
3. acts or states with a close relation to the present (forwhich we also use the present perfect);
I learned this morning that they have begun work on the new bridge.
4. the state or activity is still continuing;

He told me that the men are still at work on the bridge.
5. the reference is to a moment still vividly felt as futureat the moment of (past) speaking (for which we use one or another future form);
We discovered this morning that he will go (is going) with us tomorrow.
6. and in certain subjunctive situations too tiresome togo into here.

Cordially,
Eric Walker
My opinions on English are available at
http://owlcroft.com/english/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]There is an optional backshift rule that allows sentences like "I said that I {will/would} think about it".[/nq]
[nq:1]However, I'm again confused because I was taught years ago that in reported speech it must be "She said that she was 21" even though she is still 21.[/nq]
Ah, but we're taught simplifications and generalisations because to teach the truth is uneconomic. "I said that I would think about it" is correct in all situations, but "I said that I will think about it" points to the fact that the thinking has yet to be done. As Opus rightly points out, it can be used emphatically if someone is *** off at being reminded: "I said that I will think about it, dumbass. Now, go away and leave me alone."

Adrian

I said I'll think about it

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