Questions tagged [backshifting]
The changing of a present tense in direct speech to a past tense in reported speech
93
questions
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1answer
52 views
I'd appreciate it if + <past tense> + until + <present or past tense?>
These three examples have the same construction of
I'd appreciate it if you + past tense verb + ... + until + subject + present or past tense verb...
The first one has the present tense verb ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Adjective + the present/past [duplicate]
Would you please consider the following:
Riana (WAS/IS) so quick a thinker that she decided to dodge left when the knife was swung to her.
My question: Riana is still alive and her being ...
-1
votes
1answer
114 views
Which is the correct tense: “earth was/is round”? [duplicate]
Maybe it's very simple but I'm wondering which one is correct. Google search has showed me both forms are used.
"He said the earth was round."
"He said the earth is round."
1
vote
1answer
113 views
Difference in meaning between: “his son will return” and “his son would return” [duplicate]
The hope is that his son will/would return.
What’s the difference in meaning of the sentence when will and would are used one at a time?
Should we use only would inasmuch as hope is only ...
3
votes
3answers
161 views
What type of if-conditional is: “A shop offered us a reduction if we paid in cash.”?
What type of if-conditional is this sentence?
A shop offered us a reduction if we paid in cash.
As far as I know, the only right conditional sentences are these four:
Zero Conditional:
A shop ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
What is the Holocaust, or what was the Holocaust?
I am writing a piece of history coursework about the Holocaust. One of the section titles is What is the Holocaust, or What was the Holocaust? Could somebody please confirm which of these two is ...
1
vote
0answers
75 views
Is this an example of indirect speech?
I wrote:
School starts in August next year? I thought it started in September.
I proposed that this is one good example of how grammar can confuse people because a preterite (started) is used to ...
3
votes
2answers
150 views
Which tense is correct? “Bob wanted to know if he is/was a father”
Bob wants to know if he is a father or not. A day later, Bob learns that he's a father. Then three years passes.
Now which of the following is correct and why?
Three years ago, Bob wanted to ...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
Why isn't it “had handed” in “the girl alleged that her mother handed her over”?
In the following reported speech:
The girl alleged that her mother handed her over to a pimp and was taking Rs 40,000 from him every month.
— Times of India Newspaper, 1st May 2018
Why is it ...
0
votes
1answer
816 views
Reported speech with “never”, which one is correct? [closed]
Direct speech: “I never lose my books”.
Which one is correct in Indirect speech:
“He said he never lost his books.”
or
“He said he never loses his books.” ?
3
votes
3answers
108 views
Verb tense for anticipated future in the context of now-discarded hypothetical past
Further to discussion regarding this ELL answer...
I [had] assumed I would go to Heaven when I die/died, but when I think about all the wicked things I've done, I'm now pretty sure I'll go to Hell [...
0
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1answer
69 views
“Backshifting” in English
Can anyone please tell me if there is any need to backshift the tense?
Here is the example:
Yesterday, as a consultant I went to meet my friend Peter who has been found guilty of fraud. He claimed ...
2
votes
2answers
792 views
Modal verbs in reporting
'Advanced Grammar In Use' (AGU) by Martin Hewings, UNIT 37 C, says:
The verbs could, would, should, might, needn't, ought to, used to, and could have, should have, etc. don't change in the report:
...
3
votes
1answer
600 views
“How could I” and “how could I have” in rhetorical questions
I have a question about using could and could have in rhetorical
questions.
I was watching a video where a very old man
who was talking to a priest about his childhood asked the priest, “How
could I ...
2
votes
2answers
192 views
Conditional clause
Yo, is this sentence correct? It's hard to find a guide that speaks directly to this use of the subjunctive:
I realized that this issue needed more active contemplation, were I to find any closure.
...
1
vote
4answers
308 views
What’s the right inflection for the bracketed verb in “He asked what time the train [was/will/be] leaving”? [duplicate]
I was conducting a language assessment test when I was asked to fill out a clause:
He asked what time the train [ was / will / be] leaving.
I would have chosen be to form a subjunctive clause, had ...
1
vote
1answer
853 views
Should go/will go/will be going?
This question was in a test so please choose one of the answers given in the question.
The coach said that they _________ to the gym every day next week to get in shape for the tournament game.
1) ...
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vote
2answers
6k views
So that I can vs So that I may [duplicate]
In the cases below, do I always have to use 'may' instead of 'can'?
Both sound correct to me however, I had read explanations that said that 'may' should be used after 'so that'.
I came earlier so ...
0
votes
1answer
164 views
Indirect Speech - Tense Shifting [duplicate]
In this quoted example, is it okay to shift verb tenses mid-sentence?
Background: The narration is written in present tense. The narrator is referencing something that was said in the past, but the ...
1
vote
2answers
386 views
Tense simplification in subordinate clauses - past perfect instead of would have
in Michael Swan's "Practical English Usage" he states in the entry 580.6 ("past instead of would ..."): "would, like will, is avoided in subordinate clauses; instead, we generally use past verbs". He ...
0
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2answers
384 views
Tenses - Reported speech WITHIN a conditional clause
If we would like to express a conditional statement about a present fact
as in "Can you go outside today? - I don't know yet, I need my parents' approval first"
Are these sentences correct?
...
2
votes
3answers
440 views
Indirect speech, tense shift in clauses of second degree
I'm reading Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta are being prepared for the Arena by special instructors.
The plant instructor says: Avoid berries unless you are 100 percent sure they aren't toxic.
How ...
1
vote
1answer
209 views
Using the word “if” without having to use the word “then”
Is it acceptable to use the word "if" in the following reflection as in an oblique suspicion and not have to use the word "then"?
One question is: with all the money he has saved so far in not ...
-1
votes
1answer
698 views
Present perfect vs. Past perfect tense used in newspaper story [closed]
I've been asking a lot about backshifting of tenses for quite some time and I have come across many articles/blogs where this so-called rule is not always followed unlike notable grammar books.
For ...
1
vote
1answer
116 views
Backshift with a past continuous
Is it correct when using reported speech to say: Jan said that on the weekend she cycled and went hiking rather than Jan said that on the weekend she cycled and had gone hiking?
Tks Jan
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1answer
2k views
Past continuous reporting verb in indirect speech [duplicate]
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 ...
5
votes
5answers
274 views
Are the tenses used in the sentence correct?
From http://dilbert.com/strip/2015-07-31:
I'm going to call you Carlos from now on. And it would help if you grew a beard and walked with a limp.
Shouldn't it be grow a beard and walk with a limp ...
11
votes
3answers
4k views
To tell the name of a person I met in the past
I have a basic grammar question about the past tense. If I met a guy yesterday, which tense should I use about his name today?
For example,
"Yesterday I met a guy, his name is/was John."
1
vote
3answers
295 views
Grammar: Did Jim ask you whether you are a virgin? VS Did Jim ask you whether you were a virgin? [duplicate]
How do I form a question based on the following details:
At 1pm on Sunday
Jim: Are you a virgin?
Jane: Yes
nothing happened from 1pm to 9pm
At 9pm on Sunday: Did Jim ask you whether you were a ...
0
votes
2answers
856 views
When is “backshifting” optional?
In reported speech, tenses are generally backshifted. If what was said is still true at the time of reporting then back shifting is optional.
My question is, if someone doesn't backshift the tense ...
0
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0answers
41 views
optional backshifting [duplicate]
I have been asking a lot about optional back shifting. I understand that if what is said is still true at the time of reporting then back shifting of tense is optional. I just have one doubt. If what ...
2
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2answers
4k views
I received an email saying documents are /were [duplicate]
I received an email saying that the documents are/were being processed.
Which is correct? Are or were?
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Using Past-tense or Present-tense for verbs
I found a perfect example on the internet about what I am trying to ask. Take a look at this:
"Mr. Dilger wants to see you." Mr. Bruce went on to say. "It's about the same thing. I thought I'd ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
I have forgotten what you look/looked like
Which one is correct?
I have forgotten what you look like.
I have forgotten what you looked like.
I guess
I have forgotten what you looked like.
because logically I saw the ...
1
vote
2answers
358 views
When to use the present or the past perfect tense?
A few days back, I asked a question - why in reported speech is the present perfect tense sometimes not back shifted to the past perfect tense ? For example:
He said that he has painted the door.
...
-1
votes
1answer
390 views
sentence structure and sequence of tense
In sentence structure of indirect speech like - (He said +........... , He informed +....... , He claimed + .......... ), I am aware that if the situation is still relevant then back shifting of ...
1
vote
1answer
484 views
sequence of tenses (optional and obligatory back shifting )
Consider a sentence:
1) The president learned that the earthquake has caused havoc all across the country.
Here present perfect tense is used. First tell me is it correct to use 'has caused' ?
I ...
2
votes
3answers
552 views
present perfect vs past perfect [closed]
What's the difference between the following examples:
I noticed that the clock had stopped.
I noticed that the clock has stopped.
Some of them say that if the emphasis is laid on the ...
1
vote
1answer
11k views
Reported speech in news articles [duplicate]
In reported speech we generally back shift the tense. But why in news articles do I often see that this guideline is violated? For ...
2
votes
2answers
329 views
It was unclear that she has/had painted the door
The grammar rule says that if the verb in the main clause is in the past tense then the verbs in the subordinate clauses will also be in the corresponding past tense.
According to the grammar rule ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
I asked + present/past tense
Consider the examples:
"My name is Ricky."
He said his name is Ricky.
The tense is not backshifted in #2 because his name is and will always be Ricky. Also consider:
Ricky says: "I live in Paris."
...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Optional tense back shifting [duplicate]
While changing direct to indirect speech, we generally back shift the tense.
Example -
"I have finished my work." (Direct speech)
He said that he had finished his work. (Indirect speech)...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Problem with backshift in reporting clauses
This is the subject that's been bugging me for quite some time now, even though I believe I've managed to grasp the entire reported speech pretty well.
If I want to repeat to someone what I ...
2
votes
1answer
234 views
verb tense in reported speech
I told Cindy we would not be able to eat American Chinese food again for a couple of years, once we moved to Shanghai.
I told Cindy we would not be able to eat American Chinese food again for a ...
1
vote
0answers
222 views
Does the tense in that clause need to agree with the main clause? [duplicate]
I don't know if the title of this question is accurate or not. My vacabulary of grammar is very limited. May you could understand me by the following example:
She told me that the earth is ...
1
vote
1answer
888 views
Dependent clause tense inheritance [duplicate]
Is it right to tell
Five years ago he already knew that two plus two equals four.
or
Five years ago he already knew that two plus two equaled four.
?
On English classes (I live in ...
1
vote
1answer
693 views
sentence structure of past-future pattern
How can I make a sentence , in which I am talking about past with the reference of future?
I mean,what is the sentence structure of past-future sentence.
for example. *
I reached at London two ...
3
votes
2answers
12k views
'wanted' or 'had wanted'
Should I use wanted or had wanted here?
Ukrainians wanted to join the EU even before Russia occupied the Crimea and the Eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainians had wanted to join the EU even before ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
Reported speech - questions
In the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language; Huddleston and Pullum 2002, they make the following qualifying comment:
... reported speech covers the reporting of spoken and written text but ...
6
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3answers
1k views
Is the concept of “backshifted past tense” in reported speech applicable to other types of subordinate clauses?
BACKGROUND
Cambridge Grammar of the English Language has this portion regarding backshift on page 154:
Backsift not confined to indirect reported speech
We introduced a concept of a ...
