I told them that the weather would change two days later.

[Buddy42]

Dear teachers,
I'd like to backshift the following sentence: In the mountains the landlord says: Be aware of the fact that the weather will change the day after tomorrow.
Now it's two weeks later and the people who did not listen to him are still in hospital. The rescue mission was very expensive and so the police investigate. They question the landlord and he says:
I told them that the weather would change two days later.

Instead of two days later, I can use
- in two days' time
- in two days.

But what about:
a) two days from then
b) two days after that day
c) the day after the following day.
d) two days after

Which of these are natural? I think, they're all understandable but are they also following the rules? I think they are not precise enough for a statement you make at a police station.
a) then -> context missing
b) which day?
c) ?
d) after what? -> so very imprecise.

Thanks in advance

 

[Annabel Lee]

I told them that the weather would change two days later.

I told them that in two days the weather would change.
I told them that two days later the weather would change.
I told them that, the day after what was then tomorrow, the weather would change.
I told them that on the day after the morrow the weather would change.

By putting the adverbial expression at the beginning of the "that"-clause, you ensure that it won't be misinterpreted as modifying "told" rather than "change." If "two days later" (etc.) is placed at the end, it can modify either "told" or "change."

 

[emsr2d2]

Needless to say, the whole thing could be simplified by using days of the week and, if necessary, the date.

Landlord: On Tuesday, which would have been June 3rd, I told them the weather was due to change on Thursday 5th.
Police: Great. Thanks.

 

[Buddy42]

Thanks for all the alternatives, Annabel Lee and emsr2d2
Of course, giving the day of the week would be most natural and the most precise thing to do. But in case, the landlord does not remember exactly when he said this, but just remembers the "the day after tomorrow" part,(which is not that likely), what about these alternatives?

a) two days from then
b) two days after that day
c) the day after the following day.
d) two days after

Which of these are natural? I think, they're all understandable but to me they do not sound precise enough for a statement you make at a police station, because
a) then -> context missing
b) which day?
c) ?
d) after what? -> like this very imprecise.
Do you agree?

 

[5jj]

I think, they're all understandable but to me they do not sound precise enough for a statement you make at a police station,

The police will ask you for more precise details if they need them.

 

[emsr2d2]

If I were the landlord and I couldn't remember the exact details, I would simply say "On the day I spoke to them, I told them the weather was going to change two days later".
Starting with "On the day I spoke to them" negates any chance of anyone thinking that "told" happened "two days later".

 

[Annabel Lee]

Starting with "On the day I spoke to them" negates any chance of anyone thinking that "told" happened "two days later".

Yes, it does. Interestingly, putting that phrase at the end of the sentence would have the same diambiguating effect:

I told them the weather was going to change two days later on the day I spoke to them.

 

[5jj]

Yes, it does. Interestingly, putting that phrase at the end of the sentence would have the same diambiguating effect:

I told them the weather was going to change two days later on the day I spoke to them.

The close proximity of 'two days later' and 'on the day I spoke to them' makes that order awkward for me.

 

[Skrej]

@Adriana3

I have edited your post to remove the advertisement link as well as add 'not a teacher'. You're welcome to contribute to posts in the Ask a Teacher section, but your responses need to indicate you're not a teacher.

As for the advertisement link - if you add such a link to a post again, you will be banned.