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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
quote and the modal 'should'
Hi,
I am encountering difficulty in distinguishing whether there should be a pair of quotation marks around for a case like this. I feel, a lot of times, people skip the word 'that' or do not care to put quotation marks if what is noted requires the punctuation marks.
He said you should give him the watch
What is this? A direct quote? Then why are there no quotation marks?
Reported speech? Then why isn't there the word 'that' before 'you'?
I am encountering difficulty in distinguishing whether there should be a pair of quotation marks around for a case like this. I feel, a lot of times, people skip the word 'that' or do not care to put quotation marks if what is noted requires the punctuation marks.
He said you should give him the watch
What is this? A direct quote? Then why are there no quotation marks?
Reported speech? Then why isn't there the word 'that' before 'you'?
Top answer
He said you should give him the watch . This is reported speech. 'That ' is optional here and usually is.
- He said you should give him the watch .
- This is reported speech.
- 'That ' is optional here and usually is.
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4 Answers
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He said you should give him the watch.
This is reported speech. 'That' is optional here and usually is.
He said you should give him the watch.
This is reported speech. 'That' is optional here and usually is.
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Thank you. So, the modal 'should' can function in the past-time settings as well as in the present-time settings? I think I heard from someone that a past form of 'should' is 'had to'. On a second thought, I think I have heard something to the effect that the past form of 'must' is 'had to'. Right?
So, are these good? What comes after the verb 'suggested', 'mentioned', 'recommended', et
So, are these good? What comes after the verb 'suggested', 'mentioned', 'recommended', et
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Yes, we use 'had to' for past 'must' since the verb is imperfect-- it hasn't a past form for this use.
Should after suggested, etc is a different should-- it is called putative-should, and is a mostly BrE equivalent of the subjunctive:
He suggested that I go to church (subjunctive) = He suggested that I should go to church. (putat
Yes, we use 'had to' for past 'must' since the verb is imperfect-- it hasn't a past form for this use.
Should after suggested, etc is a different should-- it is called putative-should, and is a mostly BrE equivalent of the subjunctive:
He suggested that I go to church (subjunctive) = He suggested that I should go to church. (putat
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> So, the modal 'should' can function in the past-time settings as well as in the present-time settings?
Yes. Most of the modals do that. They're are quite time-independent.
Yes. Most of the modals do that. They're are quite time-independent.
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