Indirect sentences

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hoangthi

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Hello everyone.
Today I have some questions about indirect sentences. Would you like to help me solve them?
- Problem 1
A: Where are you going?
B: I am going to school. What do you mean?
A: I would like to know where / [you was going to] or [where you are going to] / ?
- Problem 2
+ Indirect: I don't know what happened.
direct sentence is: What happen ? (It is ok)?

+ So indirect: I don't know what is happening.
What is direct sentences ? [...]

- PS: Please tell me if you see any problems from my posts. Thanks
 

Tdol

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A: I would like to know where / [you was going to] or [where you are going to] / ?
Use the second or where you were going to if you think you have stopped them.

I'm afraid I can't get my head around what you're asking for the second- maybe someone else can. My apologies.
 

bhaisahab

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"What happen?" is not OK. It should be "What happened?"
 

emsr2d2

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Hello everyone.
Today I have some questions about indirect sentences. Would you like to help me solve them?
- Problem 1
A: Where are you going?
B: I am going to school. What do you mean?
A: I would like to know where / [you was going to] or [where you are going to] / ?
- Problem 2
+ Indirect: I don't know what happened.
direct sentence is: What happen ? (It is ok)?

+ So indirect: I don't know what is happening.
What is direct sentences ? [...]

- PS: Please tell me if you see any problems from my posts. Thanks

What happened?
I don't know what happened.
I asked you what happened.
You told me you didn't know what happened.

What is happening?
I don't know what is happening.
I wanted to know what was happening.
You told me you didn't know what was happening.
 

hoangthi

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Thanks you all for replying.
But why does my teacher always teach me:
I need to down tense level when convert direct to indirect?
Example. Simple tense => simple past
Peter asked me: "what do you do ?"
> Peter asked me that what I did...
So why do you think it is: Peter asked me that what i do?
 
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5jj

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Peter asked me: "what do you do ?"
> Peter asked me that what I did...
So why do you think it is: Peter asked me [STRIKE]that[/STRIKE] what [STRIKE]i[/STRIKE]I do?
Both versions in red are possible. Backshifting (present to past) is always correct. If the situation reported is still valid at the time of reporting, backshifting is not obligatory.
 

hoangthi

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So where can I use 'Backshifting' ? And Where not?
If I don't use backshifting, my exam will be not true by my teacher.
 
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5jj

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So where can I use 'Backshifting' ? And Where not?
As I said, backshifting is aways correct - at least when the introductory verb is in a past tense.
If I don't use backshifting, my [STRIKE]exam will be not true[/STRIKE]answers will be marked wrong by my teacher.
Then backshift.
 

hoangthi

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Thanks all.
Everybody here, who are American?
 

5jj

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Everybody here, who are American?

If you click on Member Info just below our names and UE status, you'll find out a little about us.
 
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