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Qingqing Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
"since" in the indirect speech
It is said that in the indirect speech the tense in the adverbial clause introduced by "since" is unnecessary to be changed. eg.
He said , "I have studied English since I was a child . "?He said that he had studied English since he was a child.
But what about the following question:
They asked me to have a drink with them. I said that it was at least ten years since I ___ a good drink.
A. had enjoyed B.enjoyed
The anser is "A". What about "B"?
He said , "I have studied English since I was a child . "?He said that he had studied English since he was a child.
But what about the following question:
They asked me to have a drink with them. I said that it was at least ten years since I ___ a good drink.
A. had enjoyed B.enjoyed
The anser is "A". What about "B"?
Top answer
For tests/exams be strict, use the past perfect , because it defines the right tense sequence, even with since . One can dispense with it in more casual circumstances. " Reported : I said it was at least ten years since I had (last) enjoyed a good drink.
- For tests/exams be strict, use the past perfect , because it defines the right tense sequence, even with since .
- One can dispense with it in more casual circumstances.
- " Reported : I said it was at least ten years since I had (last) enjoyed a good drink.
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3 Answers
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For tests/exams be strict, use the past perfect, because it defines the right tense sequence, even with since. One can dispense with it in more casual circumstances.
Direct: I said, "It's at least ten years since I (last) enjoyed a good drink."
Reported: I said it was at least ten years since I had (last) enjoyed a good drink.
Direct: I said, "It's at least ten years since I (last) enjoyed a good drink."
Reported: I said it was at least ten years since I had (last) enjoyed a good drink.
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Another, less frequent, but possible, IMO, use of past perfect in this reported speech case:
Reported: I said it had been at least ten years since I (last) enjoyed a good drink.
Model:
David Copperfield by Dickens, Charles - Chapter 59
Reported: I said it had been at least ten years since I (last) enjoyed a good drink.
Model:
David Copperfield by Dickens, Charles - Chapter 59
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