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Hotmale Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Next in reported speech

Hello,

I'd like to ask you about "next" in reported speech. I was told that "next" changes into "the following", e.g. next week -> the following week.

Therefore, can you please tell me, why "next" doesn't change in the following sentence?

Direct: He said, ‘They will be arriving here by the next train.’
Indirect: He said that they would be arriving there by the next train.

Thank you
  

Top answer

g. next week -> the following week. This is quite a nit-picky "rule".

— GPY

  • g.
  • next week -> the following week.
  • This is quite a nit-picky "rule".
  • It may often be ignored in practice, as in your example.
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10 Answers
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HotmaleI was told that "next" changes into "the following", e.g. next week -> the following week.
This is quite a nit-picky "rule". It may often be ignored in practice, as in your example.
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Thank you for your answer.
So, is it correct to say:
"He said that they would be arriving there by the following train"?
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HotmaleThank you for your answer.So, is it correct to say:"He said that they would be arriving there by the following train"?
If the reporting is much later, then yes, but if "next" is still "next" at the time of reporting then only "next" works.
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... by the way, in the case of "next week", "next month", etc., be aware that there is also the issue of whether "next" is still "next" at the time of reporting.

For example, suppose someone says "I'm leaving next week". If this is reported, say, later the same day, then it would be "He said he's leaving next week" (not "the following week"). However, if it is reported weeks later then "t
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The examples covered thus far are pretty straightforward. Where "next" gets confusing, even for native speakers, is with days. For example, suppose it's Friday and you say: "I'm flying to New York next Tuesday." Does this mean you're leaving in 4 days, or in 11 days? This is unclear without further clarification.
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AnonymousThe examples covered thus far are pretty straightforward. Where "next" gets confusing, even for native speakers, is with days. For example, suppose it's Friday and you say: "I'm flying to New York next Tuesday." Does this mean you're leaving in 4 days, or in 11 days?
For me, always 4 days. "next Wednesday" said on Monday could be more ambiguous though
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suppose it's Friday and you say: "I'm flying to New York next Tuesday." Does this mean you're leaving in 4 days, or in 11 days?

4 days. I've never heard anyone say they thought this meant 11 days.

Clive
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(Note: GPY is British and Clive is Canadian.)

In the US, you'd typically say: "I'm flying to New York on Tuesday.", if it's Friday and you're leaving in 4 days. Thus, the sentence, "I'm flying to New York next Tuesday.", is not what you'd ordinarily hear, if it's Friday and you're leaving in 4 days, and so this is ambiguous.

And suppose it was Friday and you're leaving in 11 d
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Anonymous(Note: GPY is British and Clive is Canadian.)In the US, you'd typically say: "I'm flying to New York on Tuesday.", if it's Friday and you're leaving in 4 days. Thus, the sentence, "I'm flying to New York next Tuesday.", is not what you'd ordinarily hear, if it's Friday and you're leaving in 4 days, and so this is ambiguous.And suppose it was Friday and you're lea
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