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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Reported Speech. We can't use 'that', even as an option, can we? (8)

Hi teachers,
We can't use 'that', even as an option, after 'said' in this case because we don't have a noun clause after it. Is that the reason?
Coke said (that) good evening officer and asked if he could help him.

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

You can't use the sentence at all as it stands: it mixes direct (without quotation marks) and indirect. You must choose: Coke said "Good evening, officer" and asked if he could help him. Coke greeted the officer and asked if he could help him.

— Mister Micawber

  • You can't use the sentence at all as it stands: it mixes direct (without quotation marks) and indirect.
  • You must choose: Coke said "Good evening, officer" and asked if he could help him.
  • Coke greeted the officer and asked if he could help him.
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2 Answers
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You can't use the sentence at all as it stands: it mixes direct (without quotation marks) and indirect. You must choose:

Coke said "Good evening, officer" and asked if he could help him.
Coke greeted the officer and asked if he could help him.
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Mister MicawberYou can't use the sentence at all as it stands: it mixes direct (without quotation marks) and indirect.
That's right! I haven't noticed until you've told me.
You must choose:
Coke said "Good evening, officer" and asked if he could help him.
Coke greeted the officer and asked if he could help him.
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