Was Or would be?
Hello,
Please tell me why they say "was" in this sentence:
(context: a woman would like to speak to Bob but he is not at home and she speaks to his mother on the phone):
-Well, when we (Bob and me) met in Paris, Bob asked me to call him when I was in London. I'm flying back tomorrow. Will Bob be at home this evening?
I wonder if we can say: .... Bob asked me to call him when I would be in London....
Please let me know if I am wrong. Thank you!
Top answer
olivecar Bob asked me to call him when I was in London This is a sentence in reported speech, so the original sentence Bob said is " Call me when you are in London". olivecar Bob asked me to call him when I would be in London I don't think this sentence is right, because the sentence in direct speech will be " Call me when you will be in London" , which is grammatically wrong. When we talk about the future with when, we use the present simple.
- olivecar Bob asked me to call him when I was in London This is a sentence in reported speech, so the original sentence Bob said is " Call me when you are in London".
- olivecar Bob asked me to call him when I would be in London I don't think this sentence is right, because the sentence in direct speech will be " Call me when you will be in London" , which is grammatically wrong.
- When we talk about the future with when, we use the present simple.
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olivecar Bob asked me to call him when I was in London
This is a sentence in reported speech, so the original sentence Bob said is " Call me when you are in London".
olivecarBob asked me to call him when I would be in London
I don't think this sentence is right, because the sentence in direct speech will be
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