Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

It's been a long day and my head hurts. I checked out my dog-eared grammar book & one site but found no satisfactory, definitive answer. Sheesh, I'm supposed to be the "grammar guru" amongst my barbarian colleagues, but I'm momentarily stunned at this one:

Mosley:" I forgot my wallet!"
Mosley said that he forgot his wallet. OR....

Mosley:"I forgot my wallet!''
Mosley said he had forgotten his wallet.

I tend to think that the latter is correct but I seem to remember that simple past can be reported in simple past OR past perfect.

I'm burnt out today-anyone care to stab at it?

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

stumped me for 3 seconds there..

yes both..

10.06pm and drunk again... best this brain can provide at the moment

waggo · Joined: 18 May 2003 Location: pusan baby!

Mosley exclaimed!!!!

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

They both look fine to me.

peppermint · Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 9:03 pm Post subject:

Forgotten is more formal, and probably better in a written context. However, "forgot" is fine when speaking, particularly in American English where the rules are a little more relaxed.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

When changing direct speech to reported speech, direct speech in the PAST SIMPLE tense form can be modified two ways:

a) the verb undergoes no change, eg. Mosley: "I forgot my wallet." = Mosley said he forgot his wallet.

b) the past simple verb changes to the past perfect tense form, eg. Mosley: "I forgot my wallet" = Mosley said he had forgotten his wallet.

Both are perfectly acceptable, either spoken or written.

Hope this helps.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

Do you have a particular grammar book you use for teaching?

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

Not really, but I regularly consult Penny Ur's Grammar Practice Activities when I have a memory block.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Yep, my suspicions are confirmed. With Korean teachers, they want THE answer. Both can be correct...that's what I told 'em.

Thanks for the responses....

Eunoia · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 7:38 pm Post subject:

Seems to me, thinking back to the TOEFL books I used to teach, that the "that" is optional:

Mosely said (that) he forgot his wallet.
Mosely said (that) he had forgotten his wallet.

Thus, we now have 4 equally correct choices.

(Having said that, I'm glad I'm not teaching TOEFL anymore Laughing

)

rok_the-boat · Joined: 24 Jan 2004

If Mosely has just said it, and the fact is still true, then it should be:

Mosely said (says) he has forgotten his wallet. (present perfect)

-----------------

If talking about something that happened before, like yesterday:

Mosely said he had forgotten his wallet. (past perfect)

Think:
I have eaten = I ate and am still full - not hungry - about the present.
I had eaten = about the past - nothing to do with 'now'.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

But I think the real problem here lies in carrying a wallet in the first place. Useless accessory that only complicates your life. Why do you suppose God gave us pockets? Simplify!

My out-the-door mantra is "money, smokes, & phone." A quick patdown assures me I'm good to go.