Page 99 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

l e n s e
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m a i -
s i a i e m e m s
w e r o
(ty.
AGVOTUNY
h e p o r i m g otdlGHItills (2).VGRM IOHot Tl Uldl-
c l a u s e s
clauses
that-clause
one that
a
reporting
time
is
the
appropriate at
is
tense
choose
for
we
are
that we
The
The tense we choose for a that-clause is one that is appropriate at the time that we are reporting
what was said or thought. This means that we sometimes use a different tense in the that-clause
what was said or thought. This means that we sometimes use a different tense in the that-clause
original
used
one that was
the
in
statement:
from the one that was used in the original statement:
from the
'Tim is much better.' —• She said that Tim was much better.
• ¢ 'Tim is much better.' —* She said that Tim was much better.
'I'm planning to buy a new car.'— Ian told me that he was planning to buy a new car.
• ¢ 'I'm planning to buy a new car.' —• Ian told me that he was planning to buy a new car.
Our decorator remarked that he had never worked
‘I've never worked so hard before.’
• ¢ 'I've never worked so hard before.' —> Our decorator remarked that he had never worked so so
hard before.
hard before.
Unit 46 for the choice of tense in the reporting clause.
See
See Unit 46 for the choice of tense in the reporting clause.
described in the that-clause is a PERMANENT SITUATION, or still exists or is
When the situation described in the that-clause is a PERMANENT SITUATION, or still exists or is
When the situation
are reporting it then we use a present tense (or present perfect) if we also
relevant at the time we
relevant at the time we are reporting it then we use a present tense (or present perfect) if we also
a present tense for the verb in the reporting clause:
use
use a present tense for the verb in the reporting clause:
spends about 5 minutes on a typical consultation with a patient.
2 • ¢ Dr Weir thinks that he
Dr Weir thinks that he spends about 5 minutes on a typical consultation with a patient.
...spent about...)
(not ...spent about...)
(not
scientists claim that they have developed a way of producing more accurate
Australian
• ¢ Australian scientists claim that they have developed a way of producing more accurate
weather forecasts, (not ...they developed...)
weather forecasts. (not ...they developed...)
been found...)
(not ...had
safe and well,
Jill says that Colin has been found
• ¢ Jill says that Colin has been found safe and well. (not ...had been found...)
when we use a past tense in the reporting clause we can use either a present or past
However, when we use a past tense in the reporting clause we can use either a present or past
However,
(or present perfect or past perfect) in the that-clause:
tense
tense (or present perfect or past perfect) in the that-clause:
argued that Carl is/was the best person for the job.
• ¢ She argued that Carl is/was the best person for the job.
She
He said that he is/was living in Oslo.
• ¢ He said that he is/was living in Oslo.
I told Rosa that I don't/didn't like going to parties.
• ¢ I told Rosa that I don't/didn't like going to parties.
rate of inflation has/had slowed down.
They noted that the rate of inflation has/had slowed down.
• ¢ They noted that the
a present tense (or present perfect) in the that-clause emphasises that the situation
Choosing a present tense (or present perfect) in the that-clause emphasises that the situation
Choosing
still exists or is still relevant when we report it.
being reported
being reported still exists or is still relevant when we report it.
show we are not sure that what we are reporting is necessarily true, or that a
If we want to to show we are not sure that what we are reporting is necessarily true, or that a
If we want
may not still exist now, we prefer a past rather than a present tense:
situation
situation may not still exist now, we prefer a past rather than a present tense:
(= might suggest that this is the case)
• ¢ Sarah told me that she has two houses. (= might suggest that this is the case)
Sarah told me that she has two houses.
(= might suggest either that this is perhaps not true,
Sarah told me that she had two houses.
• ¢ Sarah told me that she had two houses. (= might suggest either that this is perhaps not true,
or that she once had two houses but doesn't have two houses now)
or that she once had two houses but doesn't have two houses now)
situation described in the that-clause is in the past when we are reporting it, we use a
When the
When the situation described in the that-clause is in the past when we are reporting it, we use a
(simple past, past continuous, etc.):
past tense
past tense (simple past, past continuous, etc.):
'I don't want anything to eat.' —* Mark said that he didn't want anything to eat.
• ¢ 'T don't want anything to eat.'— Mark said that he didn't want anything to eat.
'I'm leaving!' —• Bob announced that he was leaving.
• « 'T'm leaving!'— Bob announced that he was leaving.
being
'The problem is being dealt with by the manager.'
—•
She told me that the problem was
• ¢ 'The problem is being dealt with by the manager.'— She told me that the problem was being
2 Reporting quesios = [NER Reporting statements (1) and (3) => lll'llULHH Repoting offs, ec => PIE often
dealt with by the manager.
dealt with by the manager.
spoken
the
the past when
the
it was
that-clause was
situation
already
described
in
in
When
When the situation described in the that-clause was already in the past when it was spoken
report
although the past
it,
usually
can
we
originally,
simple
use
the past perfect to
about
about originally, we usually use the past perfect to report it, although the past simple can often
used instead:
be
be used instead:
had
• ¢
'I learnt how to eat with chopsticks when I was in Hong Kong.' -» Mary said that she had
'T learnt how to eat with chopsticks when I was in Hong Kong.' ~ Mary said that she
learnt/learnt how to eat with chopsticks when she was in Hong Kong.
learnt/learnt how to eat with chopsticks when she was in Hong Kong.
-*
She reassured me that she had posted/posted the card.
T posted the card yesterday.' > She reassured me that she had posted/posted the card.
• ¢
T posted the card yesterday.'
-> She told me that she had seen the film before.
'I've seen the film before.'
• * ‘Pve seen the film before.' > She told me that she had seen the film before.
'I've been spending a lot more time with my children.' -» He mentioned that he had been
• ¢
‘Tve been spending a lot more time with my children.' ~ He mentioned that he had been
spending a lot more time with his children.
spending a lot more time with his children.
Reporting offers, etc. =
Reporting questions => IffffiiEl Reporting sateen (1) and @) > EZ