Read up on sequence of tenses.
Herb
From: Assembly for the
Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad
Johnston
Sent: 2009-03-09 10:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: On the road to Nashville
Cindy says, "I have lived in Nashville for ten years
<and still does>.
Cindy says, "I lived in Nashville for ten
years" <but now lives in Toronto>. Under your rules, in reporting direct discourse, we cannot
know whether Cindy lives in Nashville or Toronto. This illustrates the problem I have with your rule about
sequence of tenses. If Cindy still lives in Nashville, the reporter should
have reported that "Cindy says she has lived in Nashville for 10
years". Your way, the reporter reports: "Yesterday, the
president said he supported the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, but it is not
known whether he still holds, or can be presumed to hold, that same view
today". IMAHO, "sequence of tenses" is a nice rule
that doesn't work. The reporter should report what he heard: Yesterday,
the president said he supports the withdrawal. That's what actually happened
yesterday, the rule notwithstanding. ~~~~~~~~ --- On Mon, 3/9/09, STAHLKE, HERBERT F <[log in to unmask]>
wrote: Direct discourse: Cindy says, "I have lived in
Nashville for ten years." From: Wollin, Edith [[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]] Cynthia had lived in Nashville for ten years before she
moved to Toronto. ~~~~~~~~ Original Message When Cynthia got to
Nashville, she had been driving for 8 hours. (past perfect) |
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