Hi ! 👋 I have a question regarding "reported speech" and "back shifting". Strictly speaking, can you tell me if you have to "back shift" ALL the verbs in the direct sentence or just the Main verb? Ta

Fatima

Hi ! 👋 I have a question regarding "reported speech" and "back shifting". Strictly speaking, can you tell me if you have to "back shift" ALL the verbs in the direct sentence or just the Main verb? Take this: Dr Lin said:"Our brains are really good at filling in details we don't know, so we make assumptions about the color of writing." Dr Lin said(that) our brains WERE really good at filling in details we DIDN'T know, so we Made assumptions about the color of writing. Or Dr Lin said (that) our brains WERE really good at filling in details we DON'T know , so we Make assumptions about the color of writing. Which one is correct in your idea?

15 нояб. 2020 г., 13:54

Ответы · 8

Most grammar books treat reported speech in two parts. The first part introduces back shifting. The second part adds that back shifting is optional for situations that are general truths or situations that are still true at the time of retelling. My teacher said that water boils at 100C. [general truth] My teacher said that we will have an exam next Monday. [Monday is in future at the moment of retelling]

15 ноября 2020 г.

I'm afraid my answer might not be helpful, but I wouldn't backshift that at all. You're reporting a fact that Dr Lin told you. It's always true so there's no need to backshift it.

15 ноября 2020 г.