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In indirect speech if the reporting verb is in past tense, then the verb in subordinate clause will also be in past tense.
Ex- He said that he was going to see movie.
What tense will be used in subordinate clause if the reporting verb is in past continuous tense ?
Ex -1) He was saying that he was/is going to cinema.
First of all
He said that he was going to see movie.
A movie is countable so this should be
He said that he was going to see a movie.
Also, why switch to cinema in the second example when it's not relevant to your question?
He was saying that he is going to see a movie
Makes sense to me only when I think of it like this:
He was saying that, "he is going to see a movie"
That is, as if speaking what "he" would say.
He was saying that he was going to see a movie.
Makes sense because I can think of this all remaining from the speakers perspective and not switching to the movie goers perspective.
was just because it doesn't require me to think as hard to figure out what was meant.
Aug 7, 2015 at 9:36