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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
sequel to reported speech
0 Hi, 02 br
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00 I think what I have learned after posting a question on two on this topic is that when you are reporting what someone said that has/shows no time consideration, you don't need to shift back; but you could if you wanted -- the choice is up to me. 02 br
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00 Some examples of those that need no time change but could be better if changed: 02 br
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01 i 00 John said the crime rate for our neighborhood is decreasing and it is expected the trend will continue 02 i 00 . 02 br
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01 i 00 John said the ratio of men and women in our neighborhood is three to one. 02 i 02 br
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01 i 00 John said the commander of our police department is scheduled to speak to us next week 02 i 00 . -- I think the tense change is not need if the next week is not past and if the scheduled event with the commander has not occurred. 02 br
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00 Having wrote that, I want to ask you how would you report this quote that has a inherent time factor in it. 02 br
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01 i 00 Original quote: John said, "Lee was fired due to his physical confrontation that had occurred earlier this week." 02 i 02 br
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00 How would you report this? 02 br
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01 i 00 John said that Lee had been fired due to his physical confrontation that 01 u 00 had occurred 02 u 00 earlier the prior week." 02 i 00 -- See, I could not changed the tense of 'has occurred'. How could you back-shift a past perfect? 0-
02 br
00 I think what I have learned after posting a question on two on this topic is that when you are reporting what someone said that has/shows no time consideration, you don't need to shift back; but you could if you wanted -- the choice is up to me. 02 br
02 br
00 Some examples of those that need no time change but could be better if changed: 02 br
02 br
01 i 00 John said the crime rate for our neighborhood is decreasing and it is expected the trend will continue 02 i 00 . 02 br
02 br
01 i 00 John said the ratio of men and women in our neighborhood is three to one. 02 i 02 br
02 br
01 i 00 John said the commander of our police department is scheduled to speak to us next week 02 i 00 . -- I think the tense change is not need if the next week is not past and if the scheduled event with the commander has not occurred. 02 br
02 br
00 Having wrote that, I want to ask you how would you report this quote that has a inherent time factor in it. 02 br
02 br
01 i 00 Original quote: John said, "Lee was fired due to his physical confrontation that had occurred earlier this week." 02 i 02 br
02 br
00 How would you report this? 02 br
02 br
01 i 00 John said that Lee had been fired due to his physical confrontation that 01 u 00 had occurred 02 u 00 earlier the prior week." 02 i 00 -- See, I could not changed the tense of 'has occurred'. How could you back-shift a past perfect? 0-
Top answer
02 br 00 That's right-- you cannot backshift past perfect. 02 i 00 0-
- 02 br 00 That's right-- you cannot backshift past perfect.
- 02 i 00 0-
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6 Answers
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0 . 02 br
00 That's right-- you cannot backshift past perfect. But I would use ' 01 i 00 that had occurred earlier 01 b 00 that 02 b 00 week'. 02 i 00 0-
00 That's right-- you cannot backshift past perfect. But I would use ' 01 i 00 that had occurred earlier 01 b 00 that 02 b 00 week'. 02 i 00 0-
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0 Thank you, Mr. M. How would you report this? 02 br
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00 Original quote: John said, "It may take some time because this is the first time we are using this equipment." 02 br
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00 My effort partially stuck: 02 br
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00 John said that it might take some time because this is?? was?? the first time they are??were?? using this equipment. 0-
02 br
00 Original quote: John said, "It may take some time because this is the first time we are using this equipment." 02 br
02 br
00 My effort partially stuck: 02 br
02 br
00 John said that it might take some time because this is?? was?? the first time they are??were?? using this equipment. 0-
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0 You need to use 01 b 01 i 00 that 02 i 02 b 00 because it's more remote (in the past), IMO: 02 br
01 i 00 John said that it might take some time because 01 b 00 that 02 b 00 was the first time they were using this equipment. 02 i 0-
01 i 00 John said that it might take some time because 01 b 00 that 02 b 00 was the first time they were using this equipment. 02 i 0-
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0 Hi guys, 02 br
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01 i 00 . . . they were using 01 b 01 u 00 that 02 u 02 b 00 equipment. 02 i 02 br
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00 Best wishes, Clive 0-
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01 i 00 . . . they were using 01 b 01 u 00 that 02 u 02 b 00 equipment. 02 i 02 br
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00 Best wishes, Clive 0-
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