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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Reported speech: backshift one part but not the other?
Hi. Please help. Would you say no. 1 needs not be back-shifted since it contains I think what could be called "unchanging truth" (not sure it is appropriately named though), but no. 2 needs to be back-shifted?
He said 1) a human being needs food to live and 2) it would be foolish to get by on three meals a week, no matter how big each meal might be.
But how about this? Does this need to be back-shifted?
He said all of us need time to put things into perspective.
He said 1) a human being needs food to live and 2) it would be foolish to get by on three meals a week, no matter how big each meal might be.
But how about this? Does this need to be back-shifted?
He said all of us need time to put things into perspective.
Top answer
He said a human being needs food to live. He said it would be foolish to get by on three meals a week, no matter how big each meal might be. The modal verb "would" is past of "will", so, in a sense, it is already back-shifted.
- He said a human being needs food to live.
- He said it would be foolish to get by on three meals a week, no matter how big each meal might be.
- The modal verb "would" is past of "will", so, in a sense, it is already back-shifted.
- He said all of us need time to put things into perspective.
- No.
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4 Answers
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He said a human being needs food to live.
He said it would be foolish to get by on three meals a week, no matter how big each meal might be.
The modal verb "would" is past of "will", so, in a sense, it is already back-shifted.
He said all of us need time to put things into perspective. No. This is one of those "unchanging truth
He said it would be foolish to get by on three meals a week, no matter how big each meal might be.
The modal verb "would" is past of "will", so, in a sense, it is already back-shifted.
He said all of us need time to put things into perspective. No. This is one of those "unchanging truth
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Hi. Thank you. From what your response below, I gather that you mean a sentence can be construed as "unchanging truth" or considered as something that is affected by the passing time. Is that what you mean? Your response will be appreciated.
You wrote:
He said all of us need time to put things into perspective. No. This is one of those "unchanging truths." He said all
You wrote:
He said all of us need time to put things into perspective. No. This is one of those "unchanging truths." He said all
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OK.
There once was a great teacher. He taught about the philosophy of living a good life. He said that we need to consider the healing qualities of time; all of us, no matter where or when, need time to put events into perspective. I learned a lot from this great teacher. He made a difference in my life.
One time I had a big argument with my brothers. We were not speaking to ea
There once was a great teacher. He taught about the philosophy of living a good life. He said that we need to consider the healing qualities of time; all of us, no matter where or when, need time to put events into perspective. I learned a lot from this great teacher. He made a difference in my life.
One time I had a big argument with my brothers. We were not speaking to ea
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