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Celia qiang Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
why does the sentence use backshift
One sentence from NPR .
NPR's Chris Arnold reports that today's number was less than most economists had hoped for.
The reporting verb "reports" is in present tense, so why does the reported speech use backshift?
Does he want to express that what Chris reported is untrue?
NPR's Chris Arnold reports that today's number was less than most economists had hoped for.
The reporting verb "reports" is in present tense, so why does the reported speech use backshift?
Does he want to express that what Chris reported is untrue?
Top answer
Welcome to the forums. I detect no backshifting in that sentence. NPR's Chris Arnold reports [that] X , where X = today's number was less than most economists had hoped for (which itself is already in past tense).
- Welcome to the forums.
- I detect no backshifting in that sentence.
- NPR's Chris Arnold reports [that] X , where X = today's number was less than most economists had hoped for (which itself is already in past tense).
- No part of the statement tells us anything about the veracity of the report.
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4 Answers
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Welcome to the forums.
I detect no backshifting in that sentence.
NPR's Chris Arnold reports [that] X, where X = today's number was less than most economists had hoped for (which itself is already in past tense). No part of the statement tells us anything about the veracity of the report.
I detect no backshifting in that sentence.
NPR's Chris Arnold reports [that] X, where X = today's number was less than most economists had hoped for (which itself is already in past tense). No part of the statement tells us anything about the veracity of the report.
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celia qiang One sentence from NPR .NPR's Chris Arnold reports that today's number was less than most economists had hoped for.The reporting verb "reports" is in present tense, so why does the reported speech use backshift? Does he want to express that what Chris reported is untrue?Note that the 'reporting' verb, i.e. "reports" is in the simple present tense a
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Thanks for your answer.
But I think the orginal reported speech should be
But I think the orginal reported speech should be
Today's number is less than most economists hoped for,
because of the word today. The sentence should be in present tense.00
celia qiangBut I think the original reported speech should beNo. The report is about a number that was reported earlier in the same day, so the original is fine.
Today's number is less than most economists hoped for,
because of the word today.
CJ
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