0
PreciousJones Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

I told her/I said

I was watching a movie and the main character says to his friend, "this is what I said to the reporter":

"I told her that we were a great establishment and will definitely prosper in the future."

But couldn't he had also said since he's the owner of a multi-billion organization and they're presently very successful. :

"I told her that we are a great establishment and will definitely prosper in the future."
  

Top answer

" The sequence of tenses requires the same tense (past) the main clause is in: I told her that we were a great establishment and would definitely prosper in the future. CB

— Cool Breeze

  • " The sequence of tenses requires the same tense (past) the main clause is in: I told her that we were a great establishment and would definitely prosper in the future.
  • CB
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

12 Answers
0
PreciousJones"I told her that we were a great establishment and will definitely prosper in the future."
The sequence of tenses requires the same tense (past) the main clause is in:
I told her that we were a great establishment and would definitely prosper in the future.

CB
0
0
He used the past tense "were" to agree with "told" which is also in the past tense.

He could have used the present tense instead, since what he told her is still relevant and true.

Many grammar books state that only the first is correct but usage quite often doesn't adhere to the rules outlined in those books.
0
0
So wait...you can backshift with,

Said but not told?

He said he is coming.
0
0
Cool Breeze
PreciousJones"I told her that we were a great establishment and will definitely prosper in the future."
The sequence of tenses requires the same tense (past) the main clause is in:
I told her that we were a great establishment and would definitely prosper in the future.

CB
0
0
It's always ok to backshift (in your sentence backshifting requires were not are) but it's not always required. I've asked this question before and that's what I was told.
0
0
IvanhrIt's always ok to backshift (in your sentence backshifting requires were not are) but it's not always required. I've asked this question before and that's what I was told.

I'm sorry but is it okay not to backshift if the statement still holds true?

Like for example:

I told him that we are h
0
0
To me, that sentence is grammatical. Note that grammarians don't agree on this particular point.
0
0
What do you mean by grammarians though? I mean...shouldn't we listen to the grammarians or teachers, 'cause we're on this forum to perfect our english?
0
0
PreciousJonesWhat do you mean by grammarians though? I mean...shouldn't we listen to the grammarians or teachers, 'cause we're on this forum to perfect our english?

Some grammarians are in favor of the sequence of tenses, others think that tenses should correspond to the time they're referring to.
0
0
Cool Breeze
PreciousJones"I told her that we were a great establishment and will definitely prosper in the future."
The sequence of tenses requires the same tense (past) the main clause is in:
I told her that we were a great establishment and would definitely prosper in the future.

I
0

Related Questions