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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Present
When reporting direct speech what is considered present tense and what is past tense?
What if you're reporting something that someone said an hour ago, would it be considered in the past or present?
Thnks!
What if you're reporting something that someone said an hour ago, would it be considered in the past or present?
Thnks!
Top answer
Well you said it correctly - it happened in the past.
- Well you said it correctly - it happened in the past.
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2 Answers
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Perhaps you're referring to direct quotations. If so, the tense would depend on the quotation, as it would be recounted verbatim. On the other hand, an indirect quotation paraphrases a speaker's words to be in the past tense and the pluperfect, if necessary.
Direct Quotation
The ice cream man told me, "I don't serve your kind."
Direct Quotation
The ice cream man told me, "I don't serve your kind."
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