Did I tell you that I'm (???) doing Atkins?

[northpath]

In a movie, one of the characters (an educated person) says
Did I tell you that I'm doing Atkins?
Is the use of the present (not past) tense in the subordinate clause OK in this sentence?

 

[Tarheel]

"Did I tell you that I'm doing Atkins?" - Did I tell you I'm on the Atkins diet?

I don't see a subordinate clause there.

 

[Barque]

In a movie, one of the characters (an educated person) says
Did I tell you that I'm doing Atkins?
Is the use of the present (not past) tense in the subordinate clause OK in this sentence?

Yes, it's correct if he means he's on the Atkins diet at that time.

What do you mean by "past"?

f you're asking if he should have said "Did I tell you that I did Atkins?", yes, it'd be correct but it'd have a different meaning.

 

[5jj]

I don't.see a subordinate clause there.

... that I'm doing Atkins.

 

[5jj]

Is the use of the present (not past) tense in the subordinate clause OK in this sentence?

Yes. Backshifting to was doing is possible but it's not essential if the situation is still valid at the time of speaking.

 

[Tarheel]

... that I'm doing Atkins.

I guess that's a subordinate clause. (It's certainly not a Santa Claus.)

 

[Barque]

Which reminds me - what do you call Santa's servants?

Subordinate Clauses!