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OrtonR Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Sequence of verb tense
"Sir, I have read in grammar book that if the main verb is in the past tense then the verb in the subordinate clause will also be in past tense. I tried to follow this rule that if the first verb is past tense, the second one should be past as well, but I get to read from other places, such as news articles, with sentences not following this rule like this one below:
- Scientists and broadcasters said that they have captured footage of an elusive giant squid roaming the depths of the Pacific Ocean, showing it in its natural habitat for the first time ever.
In the above sentence, the first verb "said" is past tense but the second verb "have captured" is present perfect tense. Please explain and advise me on this one. Thank you."
- Scientists and broadcasters said that they have captured footage of an elusive giant squid roaming the depths of the Pacific Ocean, showing it in its natural habitat for the first time ever.
In the above sentence, the first verb "said" is past tense but the second verb "have captured" is present perfect tense. Please explain and advise me on this one. Thank you."
Top answer
htm . and received some detailed answers. As we have said many times in many threads, if the situation reported is still valid at the time of reporting, then backshifting is permissible but no obligatory.
- htm .
- and received some detailed answers.
- As we have said many times in many threads, if the situation reported is still valid at the time of reporting, then backshifting is permissible but no obligatory.
- That's it in a nutshell.
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67 Answers
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You asked a similar question here, https://www.EnglishForward.com/English/ThoughtPresentPastTense/bhxngj/post.htm. and received some detailed answers.
As we have said many times in many threads, if the situation reported is still valid at the time of
As we have said many times in many threads, if the situation reported is still valid at the time of
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John said "I have been to Spain."
John said that he has been to Spain.
In this example, is it perfectly correct to not back shift the tense ?
John said that he has been to Spain.
In this example, is it perfectly correct to not back shift the tense ?
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ortonRIn this example, is it perfectly correct to not back shift the tense ?Not in any reported-speech exercise.
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Mister MicawberNot in any reported-speech exercise.I think that exercises that suggest that non-nackshifting is incorrect do a disservice to learners. It is often not incorrect and quite often natural.
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If its incorrect grammatically, then why in some new articles or novels I find this rule to be violated ?
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fivejedjonI think that exercises that suggest that non-nackshifting is incorrect do a disservice to learners. It is often not incorrect and quite often natural.A realistic approach, but not one used in nackshifting exercises, I'm afraid. Perhaps we could recall and revise all the EFL/ESL textbooks on the market.
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It is not incorrect grammatically if the situation reported is still valid at the time of reporting.
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ortonRIf its incorrect grammatically, then why in some new articles or novels I find this rule to be violated ?No one said it was ungrammatical. Read 5jj's post above.
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