In Verbs^x, Indirect speech^x, Tenses^x

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...

Hello. Sorry to hear you're feeling uncomfortable with this type of activity. But you're not alone: I would be, too! The sentences lack context, which makes it difficult to tell when tense changes are necessary and when they are not (among other things). There is one sentence that is...

Jackson6612 wrote: But there must a tangible reason for doing this. Saying that the verb has/have has to be changed to had to be consistent with announced is not a solid reason for using had left instead of have left in that sentence. Actually direct and indirect speech is not a difficult...

Jackson6612 wrote: Direct Speech : He said, ''She is a beautiful girl.'' Indirect Speech : He said that she was a beautiful girl. Direct Speech causes no problem to me but I always find Indirect Speech obscure and weird. Why can't it be said ''he said that she is a beautiful girl'' ?...

Improving_MY_English wrote: Pioussoul wrote: Improving_MY_English wrote: this sentence in direct speech is in Simple Past and in my CALLAN book, when it was changed into passive they didn't change the tense. and I was wondering why??? can we do that sometimes?? if yes, when?? Hi, I'm sorry I am...

In reported speech it is understood that the verb tense is the result of changing from direct to indirect speech. 1) You say that if you see her you will show her your new bike. 2) You're not saying that if you saw her you would show her your new bike. Sentence number one...

wrt: with regard to Someone from the UK mentioned to me that: -- For example, a shop assistant might say " did you want a bag with that ?" as a slightly less direct and more polite form of " do you want a bag with that ?" -- Some consider that a form of indirect speech, which...

<i wonder if this is an instance--like in indirect speech--where the rule is flexible...that is, it has become acceptable to say "he told me HE'S happy" as well as the backshifted "he told me he WAS happy"...in the examples above, can we backshift the verb to "WAS" because "could" is a past...

With all the wanderings of this thread, I am not sure of the question. Regarding these sentences: "i wish i could tell you what this is" (this present unidentifiable object) "i wish i could tell you what this was" (the same object) "i wish i could tell you how i feel"...