I didn't know until yesterday she was pregnant.

[shootingstar]

(William talking to Bettty about Gloria, his wife, who is pregnant)
'She's flat out.'
'Bless her. When's the babay due?'
It hits William that it hasn't occurred to him to ask. 'I don't know.'
'What?' Her face is half frown, half smile.
'Long story.' He sits on the sofa opposite to Betty. 'I didn't know until yesterday she was pregnant. I left her two months ago.'
She studies him, as if waiting for an alternative version that makes sense. ' You're telling me,' she says eventually, 'this is the first time you've seen each other for weeks and weeks?

(From A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe, Part V, Aberfan, scene 65)

Has "was" in "she was pregnant" shifted back in time in this sentence? Mind you, Gloria is pregnant. In my opinion, the sentence has to be " 'I didn't know until yesterday she is pregnant' ".
What does "She's flat out" mean?

 

[Piscean]

In my opinion, the sentence has to be " 'I didn't know until yesterday she is pregnant' ".

No. the backshifting is correct, as it is in:

I asked her if she was pregnant,
She told me she was pregnant.
I realised she was pregnant.

 

[shootingstar]

So, do you say there is backshifting in this sentence? However, there isn't any reporting clause and the sentence is direct speech, not indirect speech (your examples). I wonder what reason could be to shift back the tense in time there.

 

[jutfrank]

Since the first clause is in the past tense, the following clause agrees (though it doesn't have to). Here's another example:

a) I only found out yesterday that she was pregnant.
b) I only found out yesterday that she is pregnant.

These are synonymous—she's still pregnant at the time of speaking.

 

[shootingstar]

What does "She's flat out" mean, please?

 

[emsr2d2]

What does "She's flat out" mean please?

Given that she's pregnant, I assume it means she's extremely tired. She might even be having to lie down a lot. If you lie completely flat, you can be said to be "flat out".