Reported speech

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#63430 Sun, 26 Dec 04 02:34 AM

1. How far it is allowed to use present tense in reported speech?
2. Can both present and past tense be used in reported speech at the same time?

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Mister Micawber

#63463 Sun, 26 Dec 04 10:29 AM

(1) Generally, present tense can be used any time that the situation still obtains: 'He remarked that the earth was/is round'.

(2) Do you mean in the quoted clause itself? 'He remarked that the earth is round so he wouldn't have been able to sail his boat off the edge even if they had offered him a fortune to do so'.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (21,271)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Tenses, Clauses, Present tenses