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Hela Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
reported speech
Dear teachers,
If in an exam we are given a sentence such as:
"Mohammad Ali was the greatest boxer ever."
She considers...
How should we transform it in reported speech:
1) She considers Med Ali TO HAVE BEEN the greatest boxer ever.
2) She considers THAT Med Ali WAS the greatest boxer ever. (no tense backshift)
3) She considers THAT Med Ali HAD BEEN the greatest boxer ever.
4) She considers Med Ali AS the greatest boxer ever.
5) She considers Med Ali the greatest boxer ever.
Thank you for your help.
Hela
If in an exam we are given a sentence such as:
"Mohammad Ali was the greatest boxer ever."
She considers...
How should we transform it in reported speech:
1) She considers Med Ali TO HAVE BEEN the greatest boxer ever.
2) She considers THAT Med Ali WAS the greatest boxer ever. (no tense backshift)
3) She considers THAT Med Ali HAD BEEN the greatest boxer ever.
4) She considers Med Ali AS the greatest boxer ever.
5) She considers Med Ali the greatest boxer ever.
Thank you for your help.
Hela
Top answer
Hi, Hela! Well, if the question is about reported speech, I'd choose 2). The reporting verb is in the present - no tense backshift - and 4) & 5) are other ways to express it, but no "reported speech" excercises...
- Hi, Hela!
- Well, if the question is about reported speech, I'd choose 2).
- The reporting verb is in the present - no tense backshift - and 4) & 5) are other ways to express it, but no "reported speech" excercises...
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18 Answers
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Hi, Hela!
Well, if the question is about reported speech, I'd choose 2). The reporting verb is in the present - no tense backshift - and 4) & 5) are other ways to express it, but no "reported speech" excercises...
Well, if the question is about reported speech, I'd choose 2). The reporting verb is in the present - no tense backshift - and 4) & 5) are other ways to express it, but no "reported speech" excercises...
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Hi Hela
Numbers 1, 4 and 5 are correct. Some frown upon as after consider. (No. 4.) I don't. A that-clause after consider isn't a good idea.
Cheers
CB
Numbers 1, 4 and 5 are correct. Some frown upon as after consider. (No. 4.) I don't. A that-clause after consider isn't a good idea.
Cheers
CB
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Dear members,
And what do you think of:
6) She considers Med Ali TO BE the greatest boxer ever.
See you,
Hela
And what do you think of:
6) She considers Med Ali TO BE the greatest boxer ever.
See you,
Hela
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HelaDear members,Hi Hela
And what do you think of:
6) She considers Med Ali TO BE the greatest boxer ever.
See you,
Hela
Correct. In English, the present and the perfect infinitive are often interchangeable.
Cheers
CB
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So, just to make this more fun: If he were no longer living, would you still be comfortable with the present tense?
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Grammar GeekSo, just to make this more fun: If he were no longer living, would you still be comfortable with the present tense?The only verb in the present tense in the sentence is considers and I am comfortable with that. I would also be comfortable with the verb in the present infinitive (to be) even if he were no longer around. His r
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We shouldn't forget, however, that this is a grammar exercise about transformation from direct speech to reported speech and so rules must be respected. In this particular example should we have a time backshift or not --keeping in mind that the reporting verb is in the present: "considers".
Same question for:
7) She considers Med Ali AS BEING the greatest boxer ever.
Same question for:
7) She considers Med Ali AS BEING the greatest boxer ever.
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My contribution (taken from [url=http://staff.washington.edu/marynell/grammar/reprtdsp.html]HERE[/url]):
If the reporting verb is simple present, present perfect, or future, the noun clause verb is not changed.
If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth
If the reporting verb is simple present, present perfect, or future, the noun clause verb is not changed.
If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth
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Dear Mr Micawber,
Sorry to insist but since the origianal verb in direct speech was in the past "WAS the greatest boxer ever" we should still have a past verb in the reported speech. i.e.
Direct speech: "Med Ali was the greatest boxer ever."
Reported speech could be either of the following, right?
1) She considers Med Ali to have
Sorry to insist but since the origianal verb in direct speech was in the past "WAS the greatest boxer ever" we should still have a past verb in the reported speech. i.e.
Direct speech: "Med Ali was the greatest boxer ever."
Reported speech could be either of the following, right?
1) She considers Med Ali to have
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Here's my 2p:
1) She considers Med Ali TO HAVE BEEN the greatest boxer ever.] Fine, but not reported speech.
2) She considers THAT Med Ali WAS the greatest boxer ever. ] Fine.
3) She considers THAT Med Ali HAD BEEN the greatest boxer ever.] No.
4) She considers Med Ali AS the greatest boxer ever.] The "as" seems unnecessary to me, in standard English; besides,
1) She considers Med Ali TO HAVE BEEN the greatest boxer ever.] Fine, but not reported speech.
2) She considers THAT Med Ali WAS the greatest boxer ever. ] Fine.
3) She considers THAT Med Ali HAD BEEN the greatest boxer ever.] No.
4) She considers Med Ali AS the greatest boxer ever.] The "as" seems unnecessary to me, in standard English; besides,
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