Reported Speech

[meridiem]

When the introductory verb is in present tense or future we do not change the tense of the reported sentence. Here I want to ask if we need to change time expression in the sentence?

For example: "I will see my grandparents tomorrow."

She will tell you that she will see her grandparents tomorrow.


We won't change "tomorrow" right?

 

[TheParser]

When the introductory verb is in present tense or future we do not change the tense of the reported sentence. Here I want to ask if we need to change time expression in the sentence?

For example: "I will see my grandparents tomorrow."

She will tell you that she will see her grandparents tomorrow.


We won't change "tomorrow" right?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good afternoon, Meridiem.

MAYBE (Maybe!!!) something like:

Tom: Why are you so happy?

Sue: I am going to see my grandparents tomorrow.

***** 3 hours later:

George: I saw you and Sue speaking. What did Sue tell you?

Tom: Oh, she told me that she was going to see her grandparents tomorrow.



*****A week later:

Martha: I saw you and Sue speaking together about a week ago. What

did she say at that time?

Tom: Oh, she told me that she was going to see her grandparents the

next day.

*****

Have a nice day!

 

[meridiem]

Okay, but I wonder if we can change the time expression if the introductory verb is in present tense?

 

[TheParser]

Okay, but I wonder if we can change the time expression if the introductory verb is in present tense?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello again.

(1) I'm sorry, but I don't understand your question.

(2) Do you mean something like this?

Sue: What did Joe tell you 15 minutes ago? I saw you two talking.

Billy: Oh, he SAYS that he is going to visit his grandparents tomorrow.

If it is Monday, and someone uses the word "tomorrow," then I think

you would use the word "tomorrow" -- just as you said. Of course,

if the word "tomorrow" was said on Monday, but you are talking someone

on Tuesday, then you would say:

Oh, he SAID that he was going to visit his grandparents today./ Oh, he

SAYS that he is going to visit his grandparents today.

If this does not answer your question, perhaps someone else

will give you a better answer, or you can repost with a similar question.

Thank you.