Query about backshifting or sequence of tense
Hi people,
My question, yet another one, is about Sequence of Tense (SoT) or backshifting. I was reading a newspaper article and found the following statement to be grammatically invalid.
The former cricketer also said that he trusts Imran Khan who “with his struggle brought change in the country".
Now, keeping the rules of backshifting in mind, I believe the above sentence should be modified as follow since it is a reported statement.
The former cricketer also said that he
truststrusted Imran Khan who “with his struggle will bring change in the country". (I used will and not would because of the quotation marks)
Please correct me if I am wrong as this will increase my further understanding of the backshifting concept.
Regards
Faraz
Top answer
Backshifting is optional when the reported statement is still true (or can reasonably be assumed to still be true). "brought" means that the change happened in the past (as of the time the quoted words were said), whereas "will bring" means that the change is predicted for the future, so the meaning is different.
- Backshifting is optional when the reported statement is still true (or can reasonably be assumed to still be true).
- "brought" means that the change happened in the past (as of the time the quoted words were said), whereas "will bring" means that the change is predicted for the future, so the meaning is different.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
Backshifting is optional when the reported statement is still true (or can reasonably be assumed to still be true).
"brought" means that the change happened in the past (as of the time the quoted words were said), whereas "will bring" means that the change is predicted for the future, so the meaning is different.
0
Related Questions