In Verbs^x, Indirect speech^x, Simple present^x

As your grammar book says, these verbs can be used in simple present. "Bill told me you were (or "are", because it's still presumably true before the move) moving to Sydney" is also possible in the fist example.By the way "contradict" is correct. :)

Hi, You wrote: I learn from a grammar book that a small set of verbs of communication such as "tell", "say" and "hear" can be used in simple present tense even though the act of telling, saying or hearing happened in the past. for example, "Bill tells me you...

Hi there: I learn from a grammar book that a small set of verbs of communication such as "tell", "say" and "hear" can be used in simple present tense even though the act of telling, saying or hearing happened in the past. for example, "Bill tells me you are...

So, as long as there is something discovered in the past and refered to a permanent truth, it still can be used with simple present tense. This reminds me of another sentence I found in my textbook regarding "indirect speech". Please see the following sentence. He said he will come on the...

I don't really understand the question either... Konstantin, you're referring to the Conditional with your German example. Indirect speech in German works differently as the Conjunctive has to be used in formal German, which however, can be replaced by the Conditional (would+infinitive). ...