Page 101 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

R e p o r t i n g s t a t e m e n t s ( 3 ) :(3): v e r oVerD t e n s e i nin m ete
statements
tense
Reporting
r e p o r t i n g c l a u s e ; s a y and t e l l ; e t c .
say
clause;
reporting
etc.
a n d tell;
•h Verb tense in the reporting clause
reporting
Verb
tense
in
clause
the
we
in
the
or
reporting
that
the
said
was
past,
report
verb
something
the
clause
WhenWhen we report something that was said or thoughtthought inin the past, the verb in the reporting clause
(see Unit 43 and Unit 45B) is often in aa past tense:
Unit
45B)
and
Unit
43
often
past
is
in
tense:
(see
• ¢ JustJust before her wedding, she revealed that she had been married before.
married
revealed
her
she
been
had
wedding,
before.
before
that
she
• ¢ I I explained that my paintings were notnot for sale.
my
paintings
explained
that
sale.
for
were
However, when we report current news, opinions, etc. we can use a present tense for the verb inin
we
use
news,
etc.
tense
a
present
opinions,
the
when
However,
we
for
verb
current
report
can
the reporting clause. InIn some cases, eithereither a a present tense or past tense is possible:
tense
some
present
the
or
past
clause.
cases,
tense
possible:
is
reporting
10 children need special help with reading,
The teacher says that about
{or ...said...)
• * The teacher says that about 10 children need special help with reading. for ...said...)
However, we prefer a present rather than a past tense to report information that we have heard,
However, we prefer a present rather than a past tense to report information that we have heard,
but don't know whether it is is true or not:
but don't know whether it true or not:
Ben tells me that you're moving back to
•
Greece.
n n° Ben tells me that you're moving back to Greece.
I hear you're unhappy with your job.
(See also Unit 2D.)
• ¢ • « JThear you're unhappy with your job. (See also Unit 2D.)
and also to report a general statement about what people say or think, or what is said by some
and also to report a general statement about what people say or think, or what is said by some
authority: .
authority:
Everyone says that it's quite safe to drink the water here.
• ¢ Everyone says that it's quite safe to drink the water here.
Business people all over the country are telling the government that interest rates must be cut.
• ¢ Business people all over the country are telling the government that interest rates must be cut.
The law says that no-one under the age of 16 can buy a lottery ticket.
• ¢ The law says that no-one under the age of 16 can buy a lottery ticket.
Other changes in reporting statements
reporting
statements
changes
Other
in
report
Remember that whenwhen
different context fromfrom
in
one
Remember that we report speechspeech inin aa different context the one in whichwhich it was
the
we
it
was
originally produced, we oftenoften need to change pronouns, references to time and place, andand words
references
originally
we
place,
pronouns,
need
to
change
words
to
produced,
and
time
such as this, that, these, as well as verb tense. Here are some examples:
some
tense.
Here
are
well
as
as
verb
such
examples:
that,
as
this,
these,
• ¢ 'I've played before.' -* She told him thatthat she had played before.
'I've
played
before.
played
She
had
told
>
she
him
before.’
• ¢ 'Jim's arriving later today.' —* She said that Jim was arriving later that day.
later
arriving
day.
that
Jim
She
said
arriving
‘Jim's
that
was
later
today.'—
• ¢ 'I was sure I'd left it here.' -» He said that he was sure he'd left it there / on the table.
it
sure
he
was
that
left
it
sure
here.'
said
the
left
on
I'd
+
he'd
there
table.
was
'I
He
/
—• He told me that he had grown those carrots himself.
• ¢ 'I grew these carrots myself.'myself.'— He told me that he had grown those carrots himself.
grew
carrots
these
'I
Say and tell
and
tell
Say
report
to
use
statements.
We
an
tell,
are
used
Say andand
most
tell
commonly
the
Say tell are the verbs most commonly used to report statements. We use an objectobject afterafter tell,
verbs
but notnot afterafter say:
say:
but
• ¢ He told me that he was feeling ill. {not ...told that...)
that...)
feeling
me
that
he
told
was
He
(ot
ill.
...told
• ¢ She said that she would be late for the meeting, {not ...said me that...)
would
she
for
said
meeting.
the
me
...said
{not
She
that
be
late
that...)
However, we cancan use to + object afterafter say, but not after tell:
use
after
but
+
not
object
However,
we
to
say,
tell:
• ¢ I said to John that he had to work harder, {not ...told to John...)
John
I
said
to
...told
had
he
harder.
{not
work
to
to
John...)
that
oWe can report what topic was talked about using tell + object + about: 4
what
using
talked
+
We
tell
about
can
was
topic
object
about:
report
+
about...)
(me)
{not ...said
• ©
• ¢ With the verbs admit, deny, mention, and report we can report a statement using an -ing clause:
She told me about her holiday in Finland.
She told me about her holiday in Finland, {not ...said (me) about...)
Repotrgquesions=> IIE) Repotrgsterers(!)adQ)=> MII) Reotrygofes IW i 4
Reporting statements with an -ing clause
Reporting statements with an -ing clause
With the verbs admit, deny, mention, and report we can report a statement using an -ing clause:
denied hearing the police warnings,
{or He denied that he
(had) heard...)
He denied hearing the police warnings. for He denied that he (had) heard...)
He
• ¢
Toni mentioned meeting Emma
(or Toni mentioned that she (had)
at a conference in Spain,
• ¢ Toni mentioned meeting Emma at a conference in Spain. (or Toni mentioned that she (had)
wflEmma...)
met Emma...)
Reporting statements (1) and (2) =
Reporting offers, etc. =
Reporting questions =
>
ec.
-