Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Need to say "quote and unquote" or back-shift?
Hi, I think in informal talking situations, the back-shifting for the reported speech is not needed and what is below is proper or correct. Am I on the mark on this?
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
You don't need to say these:
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said (quote and unquote) she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's. -- If I am not mistaken, a person should back-shift words like "hate" or "like" that involves feelings eventhough a situation might require it. Right?
If I make it more simple (as I see it to be) like this:
Jack:When I was in the get-together, Janny said she saw John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
This doesn't need to be either of this when speaking informally I think:
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said (quote and unquote) she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said she had seen John at the meeting the last (previous??) time at XXX's.
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
You don't need to say these:
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said (quote and unquote) she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's. -- If I am not mistaken, a person should back-shift words like "hate" or "like" that involves feelings eventhough a situation might require it. Right?
If I make it more simple (as I see it to be) like this:
Jack:When I was in the get-together, Janny said she saw John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
This doesn't need to be either of this when speaking informally I think:
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said (quote and unquote) she hated to see John at the meeting last time at XXX's.
Jack: When I was in the get-together, Janny said she had seen John at the meeting the last (previous??) time at XXX's.
Top answer
I don't quite understand what you are asking us here. If you are asking if you have to say the words 'quote, unquote' in reported speech - no you shouldn't. People sometimes use this when they are being sarcastic, but you shouldn't use it in normal contexts.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
0
I don't quite understand what you are asking us here.
If you are asking if you have to say the words 'quote, unquote' in reported speech - no you shouldn't. People sometimes use this when they are being sarcastic, but you shouldn't use it in normal contexts.
If you are asking if you have to say the words 'quote, unquote' in reported speech - no you shouldn't. People sometimes use this when they are being sarcastic, but you shouldn't use it in normal contexts.
0