Tense usage in reported speech and comma usage in question tags.

Question

There are a few questions that I need help with. I will list them in numbers.
(Thank you in advance for all the answers and suggestions.

)

1. What is the correct tense to be used in reported speech that mentioned about the current fact?

For example: If it is a fact that there aren't any bears in the forest.
Which one, a. or b., is correct?
a. I told her there aren't any bears in that forest.
b. I told her there weren't any bears in that forest.

2. This is another confusion about the tense(s) to be used. Which one of these sentence is correct?

a. I feel that actually she already knew that to stake the life of the person she loved on a foolish myth was ridiculous.
b. I feel that actually she already knew that to stake the life of the person she loves on a foolish myth was ridiculous. --> (At the moment, she still loves him.)
c. I feel that actually she already knows that to stake the life of the person she loves on a foolish myth is ridiculous.

3. Comma or no comma with the question tag "right?." Which one is correct?

a. You went out with him right?
b. You went out with him, right?

4. I also have the same problem with question tag "okay." These two sentences, which one is correct?

a. Don't do that again okay?
b. Don't do that again, okay?

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

JewelChan1. What is the correct tense to be used in reported speech that mentioned about the current fact?

For example: If it is a fact that there aren't any bears in the forest.
Which one, a. or b., is correct?
a. I told her there aren't any bears in that forest.
b. I told her there weren't any bears in that forest.

Both are ok. Which sounds better depends on the general context, but you can use either.

2. This is another confusion about the tense(s) to be used. Which one of these sentence is correct?

a. I feel that actually she already knew that to stake the life of the person she loved on a foolish myth was ridiculous.
b. I feel that actually she already knew that to stake the life of the person she loves on a foolish myth was ridiculous. --> (At the moment, she still loves him.)
c. I feel that actually she already knows that to stake the life of the person she loves on a foolish myth is ridiculous.

I would say A and C

3. Comma or no comma with the question tag "right?." Which one is correct?

a. You went out with him right?
b. You went out with him, right?

I'd say you need the comma, because there's a little pause, and right doesn't refer to "him" or the verb "went out". So... B.

4. I also have the same problem with question tag "okay." These two sentences, which one is correct?

a. Don't do that again okay?
b. Don't do that again, okay?

I'd say B, again.

PS: welcome to the forum. There's a search function in this forum. If you search for "reported speech", you'll find a lot of threads about the tenses in reported speech.

JewelChan · Answer

Thank you very much for your reply and your kindness.

I've also read some threads on reported speech as you suggested and have learned so many new things. (Reported Speech didn't seem to be difficult to me when I learned it in my English class, but now I think it really is difficult.

Goodman · Answer

JewelChanThere are a few questions that I need help with. I will list them in numbers.
(Thank you in advance for all the answers and suggestions. )

1. What is the correct tense to be used in reported speech that mentioned about the current fact?

For example:
2. This is another confusion about the tense(s) to be used. Which one of these sentence is correct?

a. I feel that actually she already knew that to stake the life of the person she loved on a foolish myth was ridiculous.
b. I feel that actually she already knew that to stake the life of the person she loves on a foolish myth was ridiculous. --> (At the moment, she still loves him.)
c. I feel that actually she already knows that to stake the life of the person she loves on a foolish myth is ridiculous.

3. Comma or no comma with the question tag "right?." Which one is correct?

a. You went out with him right?

4. I also have the same problem with question tag "okay." These two sentences, which one is correct?

a. Don't do that again okay?

Hi,

If it is a fact that there aren't any bears in the forest.
Which one, a. or b., is correct?
a. I told her there aren't any bears in that forest. I have been hunting in this forest for years. OK- Aren't - You know historically that forest no bears have seen.
b. I told her there weren't any bears in that forest because we never came across one until recently. Weren't is correct

Weren't - At the time you made that statement, you believed no bears live in the forest. You may find out later otherwise.

b. You went out with him, right?
b. Don't do that again, okay?

Tense usage in reported speech and comma usage in question tags.

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