Reported speech.

[Humble]

Hi,
Matt said to his girlfriend, “Shall I buy you some crisps?”
1. Matt offered his gilfriend to buy some crisps.
2. Matt offered to buy some crisps for his girlfriend.

Please, which is better?
TIA

[Teia]

Originally Posted by Humble

Hi,
Matt said to his girlfriend, “Shall I buy you some crisps?”
1. Matt offered his gilfriend to buy some crisps.
2. Matt offered to buy some crisps for his girlfriend.

Please, which is better?
TIA

Hi Humble

I`d say that the second sentence is correct.
The first one might sound different using "told", which changes its message :
Mat told his girlfriend to buy some crisps
or "said to"
Matt said to his girlfriend to buy some crisps.
Still, if you want to use "offered", the second sentence is correct.

Regards,
Teia

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by Humble

Hi,
Matt said to his girlfriend, “Shall I buy you some crisps?”
1. Matt offered his gilfriend to buy some crisps.
2. Matt offered to buy some crisps for his girlfriend.

Please, which is better?
TIA

The second is correct, because it expresses that the direct object of the verb 'offered' is the verbal infinitive 'to buy' - Matt is the subject, and 'to buy' is the direct object of what he is offering.

The first sentence has 'his girlfriend' in the position of direct object. It is grammatical, but it means that Matt offered his girlfriend (to someone else - the omitted indirect object) in order that he could buy some crisps. This is rather immoral to say the least, and probably not what the writer really meant.

In the second sentence, 'for his girlfriend' is the indirect (dative case) object of 'offered'.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Humble

Hi,
Matt said to his girlfriend, “Shall I buy you some crisps?”
1. Matt offered his gilfriend to buy some crisps.
2. Matt offered to buy some crisps for his girlfriend.

Please, which is better?
TIA

I'd say that these aren't really examples of reported speech, Humble.

[Humble]

Aren't they? What are they, then?

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Humble

Aren't they? What are they, then?

I'd say, Humble, though I may be mistaken, that they are descriptions of a fact situation.

Reported speech, IMHO, is reserved for those instances where we don't want to take the responsibility for accurate quoting what someone has said, so we "report" it ,which alerts the listener that it may not be a completely accurate portrayal.

Matt said to his girlfriend, “Shall I buy you some crisps?”

Matt asked his girlfriend if she wanted him to buy her some crisps.

So Matt said, should I get/buy you some crisps?

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by riverkid

I'd say, Humble, though I may be mistaken, that they are descriptions of a fact situation.
Reported speech, IMHO, is reserved for those instances where we don't want to take the responsibility for accurate quoting what someone has said, so we "report" it ,which alerts the listener that it may not be a completely accurate portrayal.
Matt said to his girlfriend, “Shall I buy you some crisps?”
Matt asked his girlfriend if she wanted him to buy her some crisps.
So Matt said, should I get/buy you some crisps?

It definitely is reported speech. Reported speech is simply reporting a past event. It has no connotation of agreement or otherwise with what is being reported.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Coffa

It definitely is reported speech. Reported speech is simply reporting a past event. It has no connotation of agreement or otherwise with what is being reported.

"Coffa wrote a reply."

Reported speech ... ?

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by riverkid

"Coffa wrote a reply."
Reported speech ... ?

Indeed. Your sarcasm is only evident in context. That was my point, surely?

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Coffa

Indeed. Your sarcasm is only evident in context. That was my point, surely?

Please don't assume that brevity means sarcasm, Coffa.

Could you please explain your last comment. I'm not sure what your point was/is.