Is any of the following incorrect?
She told me that he came home late that night.
She told me that he had come home late that night.
She told me that he came home late that night.
She told me that he had come home late that night.
The backshifting in reported speech is common, but not mandatory.
I actually would have backshifted to the "had come" but wouldn't say you were wrong if you didn't.
I actually would have backshifted to the "had come" but wouldn't say you were wrong if you didn't.
Comments
"she told me" is a reported speech, not an event.
"He came home late..." is one simple past event. So "came" is sufficient.
She said to me, " He came home late that night."
Will it be:
She told me that he came home late that night.
Why does this mean we don't backshift?
Is there a rule I'm not aware of?
I don't think this is right. You're meant to change the tense (of the subordinate) to the past perfect.