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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect tense and reported speech

He said "I go to the park near my home every Sunday". According to the reported speech rules: He said he went to the park near his home every Sunday. If I use the past perfect tense in the main clause, which one should I say?

1) He had said he went to the park near his home every Sunday.
2) He had said he had gone to the park near his home every Sunday.
  

Top answer

Anonymous If I use the past perfect tense in the main clause, Why would you do that?

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous If I use the past perfect tense in the main clause, Why would you do that?
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4 Answers
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AnonymousIf I use the past perfect tense in the main clause,
Why would you do that?
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For example, I am talking about what he said to me, which is this sentence but I just realized that he had said this sentence before!
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Then you can use either; we often simplify the verb tense in subordinate clauses.
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I think that it is better to use subordinate clauses in the simple past tense even if the main clause is in the past perfect tense. This situation is for not only the reported speech but also the sequence of tenses.
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