Tense

Hi Mariott

You can use either will or would. Many grammar books will probably tell you that you must use "would" in this sentence. However, that is much too prescriptive, in my opinion. I'd say the use of "will" is actually better in this case because the word "would" is closely associated with hypothetical situations. The announcement that was made was in essence stated as a future fact

I see it as a matter of time.

Last January, she announced that she would step down in February [both time references have passed].

Yesterday, she announced that she will step down later this month.

I don't think it's that simple. We use "would" rather than "will" quite often when the activity referred to ("reported") is still in the future:

Q: Did you find anyone to work the graveyard shift tomorrow?
A: Yes, John said he would do it.

The response above (A) would be completely normal even though the reference is to an activity that is still in the future. (Of course, "

Thanks so much!

YankeeI don't think it's that simple. We use "would" rather than "will" quite often when the activity referred to ("reported") is still in the future:

This is one of the things that learners of English find terribly confusing. We use one form instead of another one already existing, much more than others do in their native languages.

I

Hello Philip

I meet your example while reading books,especially author tells past events and uses past language.Some books use present.
"I would always take a walk by the lake when we spent summers there while I was a kid. [= "used to"]"

how about this? I read somewhere that If I tell the story of tv series,newspapers events or books I should use present tense in reporti

Last night Jim said, "I will marry you."
Last night Jim said that he would marry me. (This is the conversion of will to would in reported speech. It carries the same meaning as in the direct quotation, and is the normal pattern for forming reported speech. )

In reported speech, there are 2 uncertainties: the "heresay" quality and the prediction of a future event. "Wou

Thanks for all replies!

mariottGov. Sarah Palin announced on Friday that she will step down..

Here, shoudn't will be would instead?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Soeleen

The word "on" can be added there, but in American English it is often omitted in such a sentence.