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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

question is about "Reported speech"

Hello buddies,my question is about "Reported speech"
I want to know the soln of this sentence plz
Adam said ,"The first thing my grandpa taught me was to cut down trees."
use (He told Maya .....)
Plz,which verb will be changed and why ? taught OR was
  

Top answer

There would be a difference in what was being said. He told Maya to cut down trees. The trees must be cut down and Maya has been told (ordered) to do it.

— Ben Baber

  • There would be a difference in what was being said.
  • He told Maya to cut down trees.
  • The trees must be cut down and Maya has been told (ordered) to do it.
  • He taught Maya to cut down trees.
  • In this case, he taught Maya that she must cut down the trees.
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2 Answers
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There would be a difference in what was being said.

He told Maya to cut down trees.
The trees must be cut down and Maya has been told (ordered) to do it.

He taught Maya to cut down trees.
In this case, he taught Maya that she must cut down the trees.

He taught Maya how to cut down trees.
He taught Maya the skills required to cut down tree
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AnonymousPlz,which verb will be changed and why ? taught OR was
The main verb is "was" so if you strictly follow the backshifting rules, the main verb is what changes.
He told Maya that the first thing ( which his grandpa taught him) had been to cut down trees.

But as a native speaker, I would probably choose not backshift at all.
He told May
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