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PreciousJones Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Says/said
I'm discussing a situation with a friend on the phone and right after I hung up my friend asks me:
"What did she say?" Could I reply with:
"She said, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient." Or
"She says, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient."
"What did she say?" Could I reply with:
"She said, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient." Or
"She says, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient."
Top answer
" or if it is not an exact quote, you can write: She told me that we're all going to be fine, but it's important to be patient. The question is in the past tense. The person who was talking to you has already hung up the phone.
- " or if it is not an exact quote, you can write: She told me that we're all going to be fine, but it's important to be patient.
- The question is in the past tense.
- The person who was talking to you has already hung up the phone.
- What did she say?
- Your response will also be in the past tense.
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8 Answers
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Answer: "She said, "We're all going to be fine, but it's important to be patient."
or if it is not an exact quote, you can write:
She told me that we're all going to be fine, but it's important to be patient.
The question is in the past tense. The person who was talking to you has already hung up the phone. What did she say?
Your response will also be in t
or if it is not an exact quote, you can write:
She told me that we're all going to be fine, but it's important to be patient.
The question is in the past tense. The person who was talking to you has already hung up the phone. What did she say?
Your response will also be in t
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Hi,
Use the first one " She said, we're all going to be fine, but it's important to be patient". Because the action has already ended.
Like Anon said, you can also use told.
But it's not wrong to say "She says, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient". Perhaps this would be grammatically wrong, but I heard a lot of people us
Use the first one " She said, we're all going to be fine, but it's important to be patient". Because the action has already ended.
Like Anon said, you can also use told.
But it's not wrong to say "She says, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient". Perhaps this would be grammatically wrong, but I heard a lot of people us
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I think the present is fine. It doesn't necessarily mean, "She speaks."
Suppose you ask someone to explain a passage of text.
"What is this guy saying?" (reply) "He is saying that the economy is going to get better."
(Present progressive tense.)
"He said etc." is less likely. (past tense)
"Have you been listening to the candidate?" (reply) "Yes. She says we
Suppose you ask someone to explain a passage of text.
"What is this guy saying?" (reply) "He is saying that the economy is going to get better."
(Present progressive tense.)
"He said etc." is less likely. (past tense)
"Have you been listening to the candidate?" (reply) "Yes. She says we
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But since it's in the past shouldn't the indirect speech be:
"She said we were all going to be fine but it was important to be patient." Or
She told us we were going to be fine but it was important to be patient.
"She said we were all going to be fine but it was important to be patient." Or
She told us we were going to be fine but it was important to be patient.
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CJ says it's never incorrect to backshift in these situations, but neither is it required. She's talking about behavior in the present, right?
Your quotation marks in your first post are confusing. You should only use them to enclose the actual words spoken in a direct quote.
Don't use them at all in reported/indirect speech.
You have several options here. Try not to conf
Your quotation marks in your first post are confusing. You should only use them to enclose the actual words spoken in a direct quote.
Don't use them at all in reported/indirect speech.
You have several options here. Try not to conf
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Yes, but all the grammar websites and movies i've been watching always backshift and always sticks with one tense.
So I'm not sure which is wrong or right.
So I'm not sure which is wrong or right.
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PreciousJonesI'm discussing a situation with a friend on the phone and right after I hung up my friend asks me:This is
"What did she say?" Could I reply with:
"She said, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient." Or
"She says, we're all going to be fine but it's important to be patient."
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PreciousJones So I'm not sure which is wrong or right.That's okay.
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