Need advice on reported speech, many thanks,everyone! =)

Question

Please advise if the answers in red below are correct. Many, many thanks, everyone! =)

“It may turn out that H1N1 will run its course like ordinary flu, in which case we are already prepared,"

Obama said.

Obama said that H1N1 may have turned out to have run its course like ordinary flu, in which case they would have prepared.

“What is he talking about?" asked Peter.

Peter did not kn0w what he was talking about.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Please advise if the answers in red below are correct. Many, many thanks, everyone! =)

“It may turn out that H1N1 will run its course like ordinary flu, in which case we are already prepared,"

Obama said.

Obama said that H1N1 may have turned out to have run its course like ordinary flu, in which case they would have prepared.

We are already discussing the above in another thread.

“What is he talking about?" asked Peter.

Peter did not kn0w what he was talking about.

The above reports Peter's ignorance as a fact. But all we know is that Peter asked the question. Possibly Peter was just pretending not to know.

So, more precise is 'Peter asked what he was talking about'.

Stil more precise is 'Peter asked what the man was talking about'. This is to avoid any thought that 'he' refers back to Peter. In other words, 'Peter did not know what he was talking about' is a common way of saying 'Peter was stupid'.

Best wishes, Clive

Adviseeker · Answer

Thanks again, Clive! =)

Need advice on reported speech, many thanks,everyone! =)

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