Pas Simple and Continuous unchanged in direct speech

Status
Not open for further replies.

englishhobby

Key Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Russian Federation
In a Grammar book by Murphy I read that the past simple can stay unchanged when reporting somebody's words, and I remember reading the same about the past continuous. Is it more common to change these tenses using the rule "one tense back" or to keep them unchanged? What about the same in written language?

E.g. 1) Paul said: 'I woke up feeling ill, so I didn't go to work.'
Paul said (that) he woke up feeling ill, so he didn't go to work.

2) Emily said: 'Yesterday I was doing my homework all day.'
3) Emily said (that) she was doing her homework all day yesterday.

:?:
 
Last edited:
I don't often backshift when speaking or writing informally. In more formal contexts, I would.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top