Indirect speech

[Roozbeh]

He said , “I hardly ever go out these days.”He said (that) he hardly ever went out those days.
Should "those" be "these" in an "indirect speech" version? Or do you consider this as correct?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

He said, [no space before the comma] “I hardly ever go out these days.” [space after the quote] He said (that) he hardly ever went out these days.
Should "those" be "these" in an "indirect speech" version? Or do you consider this as correct?

Interesting question!

These days is a common idiom. We use those days literally, not idiomatically.

These days refers to the present. Those days refers to the past: Those days are long gone.

The second (indirect) version depends on context:

- If he said it recently and it applies to the present, then these days is correct.

- If the time it refers to is in the past, then those days cannot replace the idiom these days. (Although it would be convenient!) You could say "in​ those days" or "back then."

 

[bhaisahab]

"He said that he hardly ever goes out these days."

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

"He said that he hardly ever goes out these days."

And Bhaisahab makes a good point. If you change "went" to "goes," then "these days" is exactly right.

 

[Roozbeh]

So you believe that "those" in my original is correct.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

So you believe that "those" in my original is correct.

No. "These days" is better.

 

[Roozbeh]

But you preferred "those days" in an indirect version, didn't you?

 

[GoesStation]

So you believe that "those" in my original is correct.

No. These days is an idiom. It doesn't change to those days​ even when used in a past context.

 

[Roozbeh]

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/reported.htm

Look at the table, illustrating the difference between "these" and "those".

 

[GoesStation]

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/reported.htm

Look at the table, illustrating the difference between "these" and "those".

The table is wrong about these days vs. those days.​

 

[Roozbeh]

The difference lies in the usage of preposition before "these/those" days. Right?

 

[GoesStation]

The difference lies in the usage of preposition before "these/those" days. Right?

No. It (incorrectly) suggests that these days changes to those days in reported speech. It doesn't mention a preposition.

 

[Roozbeh]

OK. Is there a possibility to make a sentence with "those days" without "in"?

 

[GoesStation]

OK. Is there a possibility to make a sentence with "those days" without "in"?

Sure. Those days were not the best examples of American democracy.

 

[Roozbeh]

- If the time it refers to is in the past, then those days cannot replace the idiom these days. (Although it would be convenient!) You could say "in​ those days" or "back then."

You just said this. I need more clarification. Why did you accept "in those days" but not "those days" in an indirect version?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

But you preferred "those days" in an indirect version, didn't you?

No. Sorry it wasn't clear. I said that we would usually say "in those days" or "back then."

"These days" is an idiom that is only used in the present. For the past (those days), you need to add in.

 

[jutfrank]

• these days is an adverbial phrase, which means: in this (present) period of time.
• in those days is an adverbial phrase, which means: in that (past) period of time.

In those days, it was difficult to find work.

So yes, you need in for the past meaning. If you don't use in, you have a noun phrase, and a different use, as in:

Those days were tough.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

The table is wrong about these days vs. those days.​

Yes it's wrong, or at least incomplete. It's not considering "these days" in the idiomatic sense, which is how it's being used in the sentence we're discussion.

We would say: "These days, the weather is warmer.

We would NOT say: "Those days, the weather was warmer."

"Those days" is not an idiom.