John said he loved the/that movie.

[Mike MC]

Which is correct or more common when reporting John's sentence at a later time in another place?

John: I love this movie.

1. John said he loved the movie.
2. John said he loved that movie.

There's different advice in different sources. For example:

When we are talking about things other than time, this or that usually changes to the in indirect speech.
"This steak is nice." > Kirsty said the steak was nice.
John Eastwood, Oxford Learner's Grammar, page 364

Note that, in addition to verbs, certain other words change in indirect speech. To keep the speaker's original meaning, make these changes as well:
this > that and these > those
Don asked, "Have you read this book?"
Don asked if I had read that book.
Jay Maurer, Focus on Grammar 5 third edition, page 385

 

[jutfrank]

Since both the and that are reference words, it all depends on the context.

 

[Mike MC]

it all depends on the context

OK, consider the following context: You and John went to the movies yesterday, and now you want to say how he liked the movie. It's reporting at a different time and place.

 

[jutfrank]

OK, consider this context: You and John went to the movies yesterday, and now you want to say how he liked the movie. It's reporting at a different time and place.

That isn't what I mean by context. Reference words, such as it and the and that are used depending on the surrounding discourse—the conversation in which they're used, for example.

A: Did you and John go and watch Napoleon last night?
B: Yeh.
A: What did you think?
B: I thought it was okay but John loved it. He said it was the best film he's ever seen in his life.

In this context, the film is referred to with the word it.


As far as the subject of reported speech is concerned, the lesson for you is that it is likely that anything referred to in the original speech by the word this will no longer be referred to by the word this later when reported, since it's likely that the distance in both time and space won't allow it.

 

[Mike MC]

the lesson for you is that it is likely that anything referred to in the original speech by the word this will no longer be referred to by the word this later when reported, since it's likely that the distance in both time and space won't allow it

No doubt.

That isn't what I mean by context. Reference words, such as it and the and that are used depending on the surrounding discourse—the conversation in which they're used

All right. Here's an imaginary conversation:

A: So, what did you do yesterday?
B: Well, John and I watched a movie at the Grand Lake Theater. It was awful!
A: Oh, that's too bad. And how did John like it?
B: He said he loved the/that movie!

I'm still not sure which is correct or more common.

 

[emsr2d2]

A: So, what did you do yesterday?
B: Well, John and I watched a movie at the Grand Lake Theater. It was awful!
A: Oh, that's too bad. And how did John like it?
B: He said he loved the/that movie!

I'm still not sure which is correct or more common.

The majority of native English speakers would simply say "He said he loved it!" Of your other two options, use "the".

 

[jutfrank]

A: So, what did you do yesterday?
B: Well, John and I watched a movie at the Grand Lake Theater. It was awful!
A: Oh, that's too bad. And how did John like it?
B: He said he loved the/that movie!

I'm still not sure which is correct or more common.

In this context, only it fits (without movie, of course). The other two don't fit.

 

[Mike MC]

In this context, only it fits (without movie, of course). The other two don't fit.

I can't make up a better context to make you choose one of my options.
Thanks anyway!

 

[jutfrank]

I'm not sure you fully understand the use of these reference words (this/that/the/it).

John: I love this movie.

Tell me a situation in which you can imagine John saying this. Whom is he talking to? What is he doing as he speaks?

 

[Mike MC]

Tell me a situation in which you can imagine John saying this.

Here's a similar change of a situation:

Words that are spoken or thought in one place by one person may be reported in another place at a different time, and perhaps by another person. Because of this, there are often grammatical differences between direct and indirect speech.
Compare:
JAMES (on Saturday evening): I don't like this party. I want to go home now.
DANIEL (on Sunday morning): James said that he didn’t like the party, and he wanted to go home.

Michael Swan, Practical English Usage fourth edition, entry 258.1

 

[jutfrank]

I'm trying to teach you how to think about this, Mike MC. Please respond to my post #9.

 

[Mike MC]

I'm trying to teach you how to think about this

I really appreciate it!

Please respond to my post #9

Sure!

John: I love this movie.

Tell me a situation in which you can imagine John saying this.

John is at the movies. He's having a good time watching the latest episode of Star Wars. He says, "I love this movie".

Whom is he talking to?

I'm the one he's talking to.

 

[jutfrank]

Okay. Now think of a reason and situation where you want to report what he said later. Once again, think about whom you're talking to and why you're saying it. Think also about how it fits into the conversation that you're having.

 

[Mike MC]

Okay. Now think of a reason and situation where you want to report what he said later. Once again, think about whom you're talking to and why you're saying it. Think also about how it fits into the conversation that you're having.

Here's the conversation I'm having with our friend, David, the next day:

David: What did you guys do on the weekend?
Me: We went to the movies and then visited a museum.
David: Did you have a good time?
Me: Sure, I did!
David: How about John?
Me: Well, he said he loved the/that movie, but he didn’t seem to be interested in the museum.

 

[Tarheel]

Here's a conversation I had with Bob.

Tarheel: What did you guys do on the weekend?
Bob: Saturday we went to Carolina Place and saw a movie there.
Tarheel: What did you see?
Bob: We saw the latest Spider Man movie.
Tarheel: Did you enjoy it?
Bob: We sure did!
Tarheel: What did you do after the movie?
Bob: We went to Pizza Hut.
Tarheel: All right! What did you do Sunday?
Bob: Went to the Natural History Museum.
Tarheel: Did you enjoy it?
Bob: I did, but John didn't like it that much.
Tarheel: What did you do afterwards?
Bob: Pizza again!
Tarheel: All right!

 

[jutfrank]

Here's the conversation I'm having with our friend, David, the next day:

David: What did you guys do on the weekend?
Me: We went to the movies and then visited a museum.
David: Did you have a good time?
Me: Sure, I did!
David: How about John?
Me: Well, he said he loved the/that movie, but he didn’t seem to be interested in the museum.

Thank you. In this context, the is correct and that is wrong.

 

[Mike MC]

Thank you. In this context, the is correct and that is wrong.

Thank you! Now according to post #2, I'd appreciate it if you provided a context where that would be correct.

 

[jutfrank]

I'd appreciate it if you provided a context where that would be correct.

I think you should try it yourself first. Try to make a context where it and the don't work.

 

[Mike MC]

I think you should try it yourself first. Try to make a context where it and the don't work.

I can't really come up with any.