[Grammar] Reported Speech Question

[Kaito-Hacker]

Hello, Isabel! What are you doing in the office? Joe told me you ____ on holiday this week.

A. were
B. are
C. had been

I think is B. The question is asked in present tense, so the question should be answered in present tense, right?

 

[Barb_D]

In reported speech, we often shift the tense back.

John said, "Isabelle is on vacation this week."
John said that Isabell was on vacation.
John saidt hat you were on vacation.

But it's not WRONG to say "are" as long as it's still the week John was referring to.

 

[Kaito-Hacker]

so, the answer is were?

 

[Barb_D]

Were or are.

 

[TheParser]

What are you doing in the office? Joe told me you ____ on holiday this week


NOT A TEACHER


(1) As the moderator told us, both answers are used by native speakers, and thus

both are "correct."

(2) If this were an examination question, however, probably it would be safer to

go with the "rule":

Joe told me that you were on holiday this week.