"My teacher told me I am a good student."

[snoopya1984]

Are the tenses in this sentence acceptable?or should past simple be used (I was a good student)?

 

[5jj]

When the situation reported is still true, we can, but don't have to, backshift. Both 'am' and 'was' are fine.

 

[TheParser]

Are the tenses in this sentence acceptable?or should past simple be used (I was a good student)?

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


(1) May I add a note to the moderator's excellent answer?

(2) I am a learner. I like clear rules. Your students also probably feel the same.

So maybe it would give your students peace of mind to follow the "rule":

Since "told" is in the past, make it "was."

(3) When your students learn more English, then they will be able to understand

that many native speakers feel more comfortable using "am" if the situation -- as

the moderator told us -- "is still true."

P.S. Of course, there are exceptions. You have to say:

My teacher told me that the moon is X miles from the earth. (That situation will be true

forever -- presumably.)

 

[5jj]

Of course, there are exceptions. You have to say:

My teacher told me that the moon is X miles from the earth. (That situation will be true

forever -- presumably.)

We are probably more likely to use the present tense there, but we don't have to. 'My teacher told me that the moon was X miles from the earth' is acceptable.