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Thread: reported speech

  1. #1
    ndexter is offline Newbie
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    Default reported speech

    I have three questions about the following sentence. Please help.

    I thougt that next time I would not (stop to run?) stop running(,?) even when I become (became?) tired.

    Thank you

  2. #2
    emsr2d2's Avatar
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by ndexter View Post
    I have three questions about the following sentence. Please help.

    I thougt that next time I would not (stop to run?) stop running(,?) even when I become (became?) tired.

    Thank you
    I decided that next time, I would not stop running even when I became tired.

    I'm confused as to why your thread is entitled "Reported speech" when the question has nothing to do with reported speech.
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    I'm confused as to why your thread is entitled "Reported speech" when the question has nothing to do with reported speech.
    Why not?
    It's the same structure.
    He said (that) he decided that next time, he would not stop running even when he became tired.
    Even if you left out "He said (that)", it still would be the same structure.

    Cheers!
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  4. #4
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by Nightmare85 View Post
    Why not?
    It's the same structure.
    He said (that) he decided that next time, he would not stop running even when he became tired.
    Even if you left out "He said (that)", it still would be the same structure.

    Cheers!
    "He said that he had decided..."
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  5. #5
    emsr2d2's Avatar
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by Nightmare85 View Post
    Why not?
    It's the same structure.
    He said (that) he decided that next time, he would not stop running even when he became tired.
    Even if you left out "He said (that)", it still would be the same structure.

    Cheers!
    Hmmmmm. So "reported thought"!
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  6. #6
    ndexter is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    Hmmmmm. So "reported thought"!
    I think that it is kind of "self-reported speech/thought".

    Direct thought/speech:
    Next time I will not stop running even when I become tired.

    Self-reported thought/speech:
    I thought (decided) that next time I would not stop running even when I became tired.

    I was not sure about "became". Even now, I don't quite understand it.
    In direct speech, I'm talking about something in the future. Right?

  7. #7
    ndexter is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by ndexter View Post
    I think that it is kind of "self-reported speech/thought".

    Direct thought/speech:
    Next time I will not stop running even when I become tired.

    Self-reported thought/speech:
    I thought (decided) that next time I would not stop running even when I became tired.

    I was not sure about "became". Even now, I don't quite understand it.
    In direct speech, I'm talking about something in the future. Right?
    Let's make it easier.

    Direct speech:
    Mike: Next time when I become tired, I will not stop running.

    Reported speech:
    Mike said that next time when he become (became) tired, he would not stop running.

    In direct speech, "become" is related to the future.
    Could anyone please explain how backshift works here?

  8. #8
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    Hmmmmm. So "reported thought"!
    Useless post is useless...

  9. #9
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by ndexter View Post
    Let's make it easier.

    Direct speech:
    Mike: Next time when I become tired, I will not stop running.

    Reported speech:
    Mike said that next time when he become (became) tired, he would not stop running.

    In direct speech, "become" is related to the future.
    Could anyone please explain how backshift works here?
    "Mike said that next time when he becomes tired, he won't stop running".
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    2006 is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: reported speech

    Quote Originally Posted by ndexter View Post
    Let's make it easier.

    Direct speech:
    Mike: Next time when I become tired, I will not stop running.

    Reported speech:
    Mike said that next time when he become (became) tired, he would not stop running. becomes tired he will not stop running.

    Although it is a habit that many people follow, there is no good reason to change tense in reported speech. In fact, changing tense often causes ambiguity of meaning.

    2006
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