Told / Was telling

Question

Hi,What is the difference between the sentences below?1)He told me yesterday that he would be coming to office today2)He was telling me yesterday that he would be coming to office today.Thanks in advance.

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

The first sentence is common

The second one is a little informal.

Anonymous · Answer

2 is only half a sentence. It needs a "when" clause.

He was telling me yesterday that he would be coming to office today when he had the heart attack.

Vsuresh · Answer

You might have cut it short. But in my estimation it is complete with 'today'.

Suresh

Clive · Answer

Hi,

What is the difference between the sentences below?

1)He told me yesterday that he would be coming to the office today. Simply states the fact.

2)He was telling me yesterday that he would be coming to the office today. Suggests that he spent a period of time telling me. Many native speakers would interpret it to mean that he told me several times.

Clive.

Vsuresh · Answer

Thank you Clive. I had almost the similar idea in my mind. But I could not bring it in words.

Suresh

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you all very much.

Anonymous · Answer

He told me that I am not coming

Laborious · Answer

AnonymousHe told me that I am not coming

He told me that he was not coming.

When the reporting verb is in a past tense, as in your sentence ('told'), we should keep the following clause in the past tense as well.
Also, please use punctuation marks where necessary. Remember to end a normal sentence with a period.

Fivejedjon · Answer

LaboriousWhen the reporting verb is in a past tense, as in your sentence ('told'), we should keep the following clause in the past tense as well.

This is not essential if the situation reported is still valid.

I saw Tim this morning. he told me he is/was not coming to the pub this evening.

Told / Was telling

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