Simone
From direct speech into indirect speech Hello, today I focus on direct and indirect speech! Direct speech: You said " I ate too much pasta". ---------------------------------- Indirect speech: 1) You said (that) you ate too much pasta. 2) You said (that) you had eaten too much pasta. What the difference between these 2 sentences? When do I have to use the first one, when the second one? If I know that the action is happened once, I'll use the past perfect. If it WAS a habit, I'll use the past simple. does my explaination is correct? Thank you
Nov 28, 2017 9:47 AM
Answers · 7
1
I would not use idea (1) it feels uncomfortable in any context, but maybe others have a different view does my explaination is correct?....is my explanation correct? is better
November 28, 2017
I totally agree with Bill. The correct answer is the second one. When using the reported speech, back-shifting is necessary (there are rare exceptions). Statements in the present tense = reported speech in the past simple tense/present tense if this is still a true fact or a general statement. I said, “my friend is an artist.”. I said (that) my friend is/was an artist. This is still true, so the present is OK. Statements in the simple past tense = reported speech in the past perfect tense: I said, “I went to the cinema.”. I said (that) I had gone to the cinema. Statements in the past perfect tense = reported speech in the past perfect tense: (no change here) I said, “I had eaten too much.”. I said (that) I had eaten too much. Statements in the futur tense = reported speech in the conditional I form: I said, “I will do the chores.”. I said (that) I would do the chores. Keep in mind that there are other rules to remember about the reported speech. I hope that makes sense.
November 28, 2017
IMO they're pretty much exactly the same. you could choose one over the other based on what the person actually said, but I don't think it matters much
November 28, 2017
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