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Vsuresh Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
indirect speech
Hi
Please tell me if this is reported correctly.
Dorothy says, "How shall I tell Tom the bad news?"
Dorothy asked how she could/would tell Tom the bad news.
Does should fit here?
Please tell me if this is reported correctly.
Dorothy says, "How shall I tell Tom the bad news?"
Dorothy asked how she could/would tell Tom the bad news.
Does should fit here?
Top answer
All three work, with slightly different feelings. [note the key word possibly with implies] would: denotes the future could: implies the ability to do it should: implies the way to do it / whether or not it's a good idea
- All three work, with slightly different feelings.
- [note the key word possibly with implies] would: denotes the future could: implies the ability to do it should: implies the way to do it / whether or not it's a good idea
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4 Answers
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All three work, with slightly different feelings. [note the key word possibly with implies]
would: denotes the future
could: implies the ability to do it
should: implies the way to do it / whether or not it's a good idea
would: denotes the future
could: implies the ability to do it
should: implies the way to do it / whether or not it's a good idea
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Thank you, Philip.
I have a doubt: Does would mean refer to future here? I think it denotes the way she should do it (telling the bad news)
I have a doubt: Does would mean refer to future here? I think it denotes the way she should do it (telling the bad news)
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Dorothy says: a) What shall I tell him?
She asked me what she would tell him.
b) I will tell him tomorrow.
She said that she would tell him tomorrow.
c) I must tell him
She said she had to tell him.
She asked me what she would tell him.
b) I will tell him tomorrow.
She said that she would tell him tomorrow.
c) I must tell him
She said she had to tell him.
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