reported speech

[Tan Elaine]

John said, "I am going to Britain next week."

In reported speech, which sentence should I use?

John said that he was going to Britain the next week.

John said that he was going to Britain the following week.

Many thanks in advance.

[engee30]

John said, "I am going to Britain next week."

In reported speech, which sentence should I use?

John said that he was going to Britain the next week.

John said that he was going to Britain the following week.

Many thanks in advance.

Both are fine.

[Tan Elaine]

Thanks, Engee30.

[engee30]

Thanks, Engee30.

You could also say, John said that he is going to Britain next week, if he hasn't gone there yet.

[kattie]

I dont think so :|...just the 2nd sentence is right ?

[engee30]

I dont think so :|...just the 2nd sentence is right ?

Why is that?

[kattie]

when is "next week"? if you say so .

[engee30]

when is "next week"? if you say so .

Next week is always the one after the week that is now.
The next or following week is always the one right after the week that was then, at the time of reference.



This week I'm cycling to work - my car has broken down. But next week, I hope to be getting to work by car again.

Like most retailers, the Grand Leader Store of South Bend, Ind. had been bucking a deep depression in appliance sales. One week in July it sold just six refrigerators. But the next/following week it sold 247.