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Peaceblinkfriend Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Reporting ''You have got to buy that book. It's a real page-turner.''
Hi all
''You have got to buy that book. It's a real page-turner.''
He said (that) I had to buy that book and that it is a real page-turner.
Does this report structure sound natural to you? I have used the present tense for the second verb in the reported clause to put emphasis on the fact that the book is still a 'real page-turner'. Would you say it is necessary to do so? Lastly, is it considered good style to use two different tenses in a reported clause?
Thank you
PBF
''You have got to buy that book. It's a real page-turner.''
He said (that) I had to buy that book and that it is a real page-turner.
Does this report structure sound natural to you? I have used the present tense for the second verb in the reported clause to put emphasis on the fact that the book is still a 'real page-turner'. Would you say it is necessary to do so? Lastly, is it considered good style to use two different tenses in a reported clause?
Thank you
PBF
Top answer
k. I think I'd change your sentence just a bit: use "because" rather than "and that".
- k.
- I think I'd change your sentence just a bit: use "because" rather than "and that".
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3 Answers
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Different tenses in reported speech = o.k.
I think I'd change your sentence just a bit: use "because" rather than "and that".
I think I'd change your sentence just a bit: use "because" rather than "and that".
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Would this be possible too?
He recommended that I buy that book because it's a real page-turner.
He recommended that I buy that book because it's a real page-turner.
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Yes, it is possible. In some grammar books, it's is used while in others it is is the correct version.
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