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Message board > urgent question!
urgent question!
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myemma
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urgent question!
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Dear friends! Could you be so kind to explain some fact in grammar!
In indirect speech , can we use the word lately or recently . For example:
He said" I have been to Kiev lately" . In what way I should change the word lately?
He said that he had been to Kiev........?
It is known that some word are changed- this - that, today- that day and so on...
Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
1 Apr 2009
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eng789
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I agree ladybird_ - they don �t change
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1 Apr 2009
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goodnesses
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Hi, there!
what about using "shortly before"?
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1 Apr 2009
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eng789
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Shortly stays the same - but what do you mean by "shortly before"-
As in She said," I �ll see you shortly, before the bell rings".
She said that she would see me shortly, before the bell rang". |
1 Apr 2009
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goodnesses
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It is just a suggestions. (no idea of a rule!!)
I think it could mean before the moment the person spoke.
I agree with you that when we have "shortly" in the direct sp we can keep it since the listener in the 2 cases (D or I) would understand the same ie. shortly before the moment of speakinf or a certain point in the time.
Howvever, "lately" always refers to a short moment before or around the present time.
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1 Apr 2009
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eng789
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lately - within the last few days or weeks, or not too long ago
"I haven �t seen Steve lately."
She said that she hadn �t seen Steve lately. |
1 Apr 2009
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goodnesses
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Yes, but what if she said this a long time ago (say many months/years ago) and you are reporting it today (telling a story).Personally, I would understand she told this "within the last few days or weeks, or not too long ago" and not a long ago.
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1 Apr 2009
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eng789
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"I haven �t seen Steve lately." Since then a year has passed and now I am reporting to my friend what she said to me back then.
When I saw her last year, she told me that she hadn �t seen Steve lately.
 I don �t see a problem.  |
1 Apr 2009
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Zora
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Or...
For - "I haven �t seen Steve lately." and a year has passed and now you are reporting to your friend what
she said to you back then.
When I saw her last year, she told me that she hadn �t seen Steve in a while"
In a while - takes away the sense of "now" or present time that "lately and recently" have...
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1 Apr 2009
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goodnesses
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eng789
Maybe you �re right but I can"t stand "lately and recently" referring to anything but, as you say, "within the last few days or weeks, or not too long ago"
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1 Apr 2009
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goodnesses
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That is it Zora, Right in time. LOL
"in a while" is much better than "shortly before.
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1 Apr 2009
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