... told me that he + a verb not in the past tense
I have written three sentences below.
(1) Yesterday, Tom told me that he is looking for a tutor now.
(2) Yesterday, Tom told me that he will retire next month.
(3) Yesterday, Tom told me that his birthday is May 1st.
I have heard from some people that in reported speech, if you use "told", you have to use the past tense all the time. So, (1) should be "was looking", (2) "would retire", and (3) "was".
Do you think the tenses originally used in the sentences are wrong? Thanks for your help.
Top answer
ansonguy Do you think the tenses originally used in the sentences are wrong? Not unless you are taking a reported-speech test. ansonguy I have heard from some people that in reported speech, if you use "told", you have to use the past tense all the time.
- ansonguy Do you think the tenses originally used in the sentences are wrong?
- Not unless you are taking a reported-speech test.
- ansonguy I have heard from some people that in reported speech, if you use "told", you have to use the past tense all the time.
- If the situation in the report has still not been fulfilled at the time of the report, the verb need not be regressed.
- However, native speakers usually do so anyway.
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ansonguyDo you think the tenses originally used in the sentences are wrong?
Not unless you are taking a reported-speech test.
ansonguyI have heard from some people that in reported speech, if you use "told", you have to use the past tense all the time.
If the situation in the report has still not been fulfilled at
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