Mar 13, 2006 22:14
18 yrs ago
English term
Singapore
Business & Legal Translator
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US, Singaporean) 
Works in: Chinese to English
was, would
English
Other
Linguistics
OECD Secretary-General Donald Johnston said that it was still very difficult to predict right now whether the 6-day WTO Hong Kong conference would be able to achieve any breakthrough progress on global trade issues.
Is it right to use "was" and "would" in this paragraph??? I'm tempted to use "is" and "will", but I'm not sure about the rules.
Is it right to use "was" and "would" in this paragraph??? I'm tempted to use "is" and "will", but I'm not sure about the rules.
Responses
| 4 +10 | It is correct |
Jack Doughty
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| 4 +9 | yes, it is correct as is |
Brie Vernier
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| 5 +2 | either way |
Richard Creech
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| 4 +1 | "was" and "would" |
William [Bill] Gray
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Change log
Mar 13, 2006 22:24: NancyLynn changed "Term asked" from "Indirect speech" to "was, would"
Responses
+10
6 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
197
English term (edited):
indirect speech
Selected
It is correct
You would only use "is" and "will" if this were direct speech: Gen. Johnson said: "It is still very difficult..."
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Anna Quail
5 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Marina Soldati
6 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Giulia Barontini
26 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Walter Landesman
46 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Oana Apetrei
: or if : ...Donald Johnston SAYS that it IS ...
8 hrs
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Thank you. Yes.
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| agree |
Armorel Young
: Simple example: someone saying "I will come" becomes in reported speech "He says he will come" (present) or "He said he would come" (past tense, like your statement).
10 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Alison Jenner
10 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Isodynamia
12 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Romanian Translator (X)
15 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
20 hrs
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Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
6 mins
William [Bill] Gray
Norway
Norway
Native in English
&
English
Norway
Working with words
Native in: English
Works in: English, Norwegian to English, Danish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
English term (edited):
indirect speech
"was" and "would"
Since this is already finished, there is a clear "past time" element in the sentence. If the conference was still being held (or not yet held) I would recommend using the present tenses, even though it is reported speech.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
1 min
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Thank you.
|
+9
5 mins
Brie Vernier
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Germany
Bridging the language gap since 1995
Native in: English (Variants: US, British, UK)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
English term (edited):
indirect speech
yes, it is correct as is
that is common usage for reported speech
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2006-03-13 22:22:41 GMT)
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See also: http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.htm
As a rule when you report something someone has said you go back a tense
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2006-03-13 22:22:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
See also: http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/reportedspeech.htm
As a rule when you report something someone has said you go back a tense
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Romanian Translator (X)
3 mins
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Thanks, Awana
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| agree |
Anna Quail
8 mins
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Thanks, F2E
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| agree |
Giulia Barontini
: Very nice explanation!
28 mins
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Thanks, Giulia
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| agree |
Walter Landesman
47 mins
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Thanks, Walter
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| agree |
SirReaL
1 hr
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Thanks, Mikhail
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| agree |
Refugio
: said + was
6 hrs
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Thanks, Ruth
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| agree |
Oana Apetrei
8 hrs
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Thanks, Oana
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| agree |
Alison Jenner
10 hrs
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Thanks, Alison
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| agree |
Yaron Dahan
: yep.. reported speech
23 hrs
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Thanks, Yaron
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+2
21 mins
Richard Creech
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Attorney-Translator
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English, and 9 more.
either way
Regardless of what conservative grammar books might say, both forms are used by English speakers in different contexts. The use of "is" and "will" would imply a level of agreement with the speaker's comments that is absent with the "was/would" form.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
SirReaL
1 hr
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| agree |
Rutie Eckdish
2 hrs
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| neutral |
Christine Andersen
: Very true, but in formal writing I would still go with the 'conservative' tenses used, to preserve the nuances of meaning.
8 hrs
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Discussion