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Tenacious Learner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Resported Speech: Answers.

Hi Teachers,

This is what Coke answered to the old lady.

“They are just my work-clothes,” Coke answered.

This the Reported Speech one, right?

Coke answered (to the old lady) that they were just his work-clothes.

The information between paretheses is optional, isn't it?

Thanks in advance



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Top answer

If you use "answered," to sound natural you need to do a bit more rewriting. He answered the old lady, saying that they were just his work clothes. He answered the old lady's question by telling her that they were...

— BarbaraPA

  • If you use "answered," to sound natural you need to do a bit more rewriting.
  • He answered the old lady, saying that they were just his work clothes.
  • He answered the old lady's question by telling her that they were...
  • He responded that they were ..
  • His answer to the old lady was that they were...
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11 Answers
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If you use "answered," to sound natural you need to do a bit more rewriting.

He answered the old lady, saying that they were just his work clothes.

He answered the old lady's question by telling her that they were...

He responded that they were ..

His answer to the old lady was that they were...

He responded by saying that they were...
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Thinking SpainThis is what Coke answered to the old lady. ... Coke answered (to the old lady) that they were just his work-clothes.
"answered to the old lady" doesn't work.

When you answer TO someone, it's like saying that you must explain your behavior to them, that you must answer their questions. That person has the right to question you about you
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Hi Jim,

Thank you for your reply.

It's very clear that the verb 'answered' it's no very appropriate according to your explanation.

This is the original sentence:

“You know, your clothes are in a terrible state,” the old lady said after the meal. “You ruined them when you had the accident!”

“That’s all right. They are j
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Hi Grammar Geek,

Thank you for your reply. You have given me more than quite a few possibilities to sound natural.

Best regards

TS
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Thinking SpainAre you telling me, that most of the times, when I have the verb 'answered' in direct speech I should change it to 'told' for reported speech, except for examples as the ones you have given me?
No. You can use "answered". Just leave out the information about who the answer was addressed to.

You could use He answered that .... I
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Hi Jim,

Thank you so much for your reply and examples given.

Original Sentence:

“You know, your clothes are in a terrible state,” the old lady said after the meal. “You ruined them when you had the accident!”

“That’s all right. They are just my work clothes,” Coke answered.

Possibilties among others:

a)
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Thinking Spaina) He told the old lady (that) they were just his work clothes.
b) He told her (that) they were just his work clothes.
c) He said (that) they were just his work clothes.
All OK. that is optional as shown.

Thinking Spaind) He answered (that) they were just his work clothes.
e) He answered the o
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Hi Jim,

Once again thank you very much!

d) He answered (that) they were just his work clothes.

e) He answered the old lady (that) they were just his work clothes.

f) He answered her (that) they were just his work clothes.

All OK with that. A bit rough on my ears without that.

So for thes
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Thinking Spainit sounds much better with than without them
Right.

CJ
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Hi Jim,

Though grammatically the 'that's' are almost always optional in reported speech, aren't they?

TS
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