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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
No shifting back in tense? Why?
Hi. In an article titled "Blagojevich indicted in federal corruption charges" by Mike Robinson, Associated Press Writer, in YAHOO! NEWS, I saw this sentence and want to know what might be the original quote and why the tense "had" might hasn't shift-back since I think the tense in this reported speech is likely the one in the quote (if I am not wrong).
Cellini attorney Dan Webb said his client never had a substantive conversation with Blagojevich, much less conspired with him.
Cellini attorney Dan Webb said his client never had a substantive conversation with Blagojevich, much less conspired with him.
Top answer
The back shift to past perfect is becoming rarer and rarer; in fact the verb form is gradually disappearing in all uses. It is unnecessary where the sequence of events remains clear.
- The back shift to past perfect is becoming rarer and rarer; in fact the verb form is gradually disappearing in all uses.
- It is unnecessary where the sequence of events remains clear.
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1 Answers
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The back shift to past perfect is becoming rarer and rarer; in fact the verb form is gradually disappearing in all uses. It is unnecessary where the sequence of events remains clear.
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The back shift to past perfect is becoming rarer and rarer; in fact the verb form is gradually disappearing in all uses. It is unnecessary where the sequence of events remains clear.
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