adviseeker  +  758249 Sun, 31 May 09 01:58 PM Dear all,   Please advise how i should change the speech below to reported speech. Many, many thanks! =)   "It may turn out that H1N1 will run its course like ordinary flus, in which case we will have prepared and we won't need all these preparations," Obama said. adviseeker Joined on Thu, Sep 25 2008 Junior Member 70 Speaking, Speeches

	Avangi  +  758326 Sun, 31 May 09 02:42 PM I'll give it a try: Obama said it might turn out that H1N1 would run its course like ordinary flus, in which case we would have prepared and we wouldn't need all those preparations. Of course this is a miserable example.  Since it refers to hypothetical events still in the future, we could argue for not backshifting; but as CJ says, it's never incorrect to backshift. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,194 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

	adviseeker  +  758731 Sun, 31 May 09 07:03 PM Thank you for trying it out! Will look into it in detail later on. Thanks soo much! =) adviseeker

	adviseeker  +  758760 Sun, 31 May 09 07:22 PM Thank you soo much, Avangi! G'day! =) adviseeker

	Clive  +  759003 Sun, 31 May 09 10:34 PM Hi, I agree with what has been suggested, but let me propose a couple more changes if the direct speech is being reported outside the USA, eg in Canada.   Obama said it might turn out that H1N1 would run its course like ordinary flus, in which case Americans we would have prepared and they we wouldn't need all those preparations.   Best wishes, Clive   Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,650 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Direct Speech, Countries, United States, Speaking, American, Speeches

	adviseeker  +  760088 Mon, 01 Jun 09 02:09 PM Thank you for your two cents, Clive! G'day! =)   In fact, I have another answer written by the setter of this question and I am confused. She has modified the question to make it simpler, but the answer doesn't really match the question. Could you help check if her answer is correct? Many thanks again! =)   (Copied and pasted from the assessment paper she set) “It may turn out that H1N1 will run its course like ordinary flu, in which case we are already prepared," Obama said.   Obama said that H1N1 may have turned out to have run its course like ordinary flu, in which case they would have prepared.   adviseeker

	Clive  suggested by Avangi  +  760199 Mon, 01 Jun 09 03:24 PM  Hi again, fact, I have another answer written by the setter of this question and I am confused. She has modified the question to make it simpler, but the answer doesn't really match the question. Could you help check if her answer is correct? Many thanks again! =)   (Copied and pasted from the assessment paper she set) “It may turn out that H1N1 will run its course like ordinary flu, in which case we are already prepared," Obama said. I find 'in which case we are already prepared'  a bit unclear. I think what is meant is 'We are already prepared for this case'.  The preparation is a present fact, but 'in which case' makes it seem conditional. In other words, it seems contradictory.   Obama said that H1N1 may have turned out to have run its course like ordinary flu, in which case they would have prepared.   It depends on whether you consider that the H1N1 outcome is in the past at the time of reporting, or in the future at the time of reporting.   Let's assume that it's still in the future. Obama said that it may turn out that H1N1 will run its course like ordinary flu, in which case they are already prepared.   Now let's assume that it's in the past. Obama said that it might turn out that H1N1 would run its course like ordinary flu, in which case they were already prepared.   Best wishes, Clive Clive