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ESL forum > Ask for help > doubts about reported speech    

doubts about reported speech



pauguzman
Argentina

doubts about reported speech
 
Hi again! I have some doubts with this sentence
Mrs Smith: "My parents are having a holiday in Australia next month"
Mrs. Smith is saying...........................................................
 
How do I change this direct sentence into reported speech? My doubt is that is Present Continuous with future reference and in the reported sentence  the verb is in Present Continuous
can you help me , please???!!!!!
 
Thanks in advance, PAULA

15 Jul 2009      





cookingongas
France

Hi Paula,

"Mrs Smith is saying..." is not the correct way to report the original sentence. You �re reporting what she said earlier, not what she �s saying now.
 
I would report it as:
 
"Mrs Smith said that her parents were having a holiday the following month"
 
I hope that helps you out.
 
All the best,
 
Charles.

15 Jul 2009     



Zora
Canada

Actually the present tense sometimes goes to the "would" form:

Mrs Smith said that her parents would be having a holiday the following month.

15 Jul 2009     



miyoko71
Morocco

The reporting verb should be either in the simple present or simple past.
so  you either report it:"Mrs smith says that her parents are  having a holiday next month"
or"Mrs Smith said that her parents were having a holiday  the following month"
miyoko71

15 Jul 2009     



Nebal
Lebanon

I would change as follows:
Mrs Smith said that her parents were having a holiday the following month.
Nebal

15 Jul 2009     



dawnmain
United Kingdom

This depends on whether next month is still next month at the time of reporting... in which case you can still say next month and t isnt necessay to change the tense of the verb to past.
So,  She said her parents are having a holiday next month would  still be correct.

15 Jul 2009     



jessicae
Spain

I agree with Miyoko71, you can use either present or past, depending on the reporting verb you use ( " say" or "said" )

15 Jul 2009     



pauguzman
Argentina

Thank you very much!! you are always there(or here Wink)
this sentence was given to one of my students in an exam and her teacher wrote the sentence like that. She always gives the same sentences in make up tests that �s why I was trying with my student to make them right.
THANKS again...you are WONDERFUL!!!!
Paula

15 Jul 2009