Conversation started Jun 16, 2014 at 14:00.
user116848
Jun 16, 2014 14:00
He asked me where I was the whole evening. That correct?
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
yes
user116848
He asked me later that is. So, what do you think?
user116848
Sorry got deleted
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
reported speech always has already occurred
i.e. it's always referring to something in the past
user116848
"He asked me where I had been the whole evening" I wrote it with "was" and you said it was okay.
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
Jun 16, 2014 14:03
yes
both are fine
simple past and perfect constructions are fine for reporting questions
user116848
So both are? Matt that's exactly what I been asking you
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
right, but your first question added in do-support, which is wrong
user116848
For reported right? Because some books give a choice
user116848
I saw wiki's do support article not sure I got it. Can you give the jest from it
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
there are always exceptions, but in the questions you've posed then either simple past or had + past participle are fine
do-support in question is one way of asking them
e.g.
> How did you eat all the pies?
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
Jun 16, 2014 14:07
Top of the balrog, all.
user116848
Hi
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
Good balrog to ye, @cornbreadninja麵包忍者
user116848
@MattЭллен And...
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
omg, omg, 5 hours left.
@MattЭллен curtsies
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
@Farooq so when reporting the question *"He asked me how I did I eat all the pies" is wrong
user116848
Jun 16, 2014 14:09
okay..
user116848
So correct would be?
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
because you don't report like that. you report by turning it into simple past or had + past participle: "He asked how I ate / had eaten all the pies"
user116848
With "had"
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
you drop the do-support
and put it into some kind of past tense
user116848
Okay:) that's new to me. Thanks Matt. And reading...
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
Jun 16, 2014 14:11
no probs :)
user116848
yes...
user116848
Nod
user116848
So my first could go like this "Tom asked me where I heard about the vacancy" that okay without do-support
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
yes
user116848
Do you have any other complex example that you would like to share with me?
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
Jun 16, 2014 14:17
um
Robusto
Robusto
Haha. Key criterion being "would like to share" . . .
user116848
@Robusto So:) Whats funny about that?
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
I want some pie.
Robusto
Robusto
@Farooq It's funny because it's true.
@cornbreadninja麵包忍者 @MattЭллен at it all. Sorry.
user116848
@Robusto True what? I didn't get the joke
Robusto
Robusto
Jun 16, 2014 14:18
Apparently.
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
> Robusto asked me why I asked cornbread what she was doing with Mitch
Robusto
Robusto
That's why we go over this stuff.
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
aye
user116848
"Robusto asked me why I asked cornbread what she was doing with Mitch" So here why not say it like "Robusto asked me why I had asked cornbread what she had been doing with Mitch"
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
style
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
Jun 16, 2014 14:21
Aw geez. Went for coffee at the wrong time.
Robusto
Robusto
Note that you can get your hair done and you can get your shit done, but not at the same time—unless getting your hair done was one of the elements involved in getting your shit done.
user116848
@MattЭллен So both are fine? Right
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
@Farooq yes
Robusto
Robusto
@Farooq Lies!
user116848
@MattЭллен But not like ""Robusto asked me why did I ask cornbread..." That would be with "do-support"?
Robusto
Robusto
Jun 16, 2014 14:23
I am not responsible. Note that this does not mean I am irresponsible.
user116848
@Robusto Lies:)???
Robusto
Robusto
What curious punctuation you have.
user116848
Lies about?
Robusto
Robusto
Looks like a cringing question. Interesting.
user116848
So I should drop my question? I guess
Robusto
Robusto
Jun 16, 2014 14:26
@Farooq No offense, but I was not addressing you. I was indulging in meta-contextual humor that you don't understand.
user116848
None taken
user116848
But not like ""Robusto asked me why did I ask cornbread..." That would be with "do-support"?
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
I'm tired.
lies about
Robusto
Robusto
If you come in here, expect that you may not understand much of the discussion going on.
user116848
Why? Not of my caliber?
user116848
Jun 16, 2014 14:28
:P
Robusto
Robusto
@Farooq If you must know, that is a common usage. But more common might be "Robusto asked my why I asked cornbread ..."
@Farooq Matt used an example sentence that made a statement involving my username on this site. My joke was to take his example as a literal assertion about me.
It has nothing to do with you.
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
@Farooq that's right
sorry, work called
I might go offline, as they're "fixing" the firewall
Robusto
Robusto
@MattЭллен Heh. We may never hear from you again, if their goal is to prevent you wasting time at work.
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
true. I'd still be wasting my time though...
user116848
@MattЭллен So I asked not like ""Robusto asked me why did I ask cornbread..." That would be with "do-support"?
Jasper Loy
Jasper Loy
Jun 16, 2014 14:32
@Farooq You should write "Robusto asked me why I asked ... " instead.
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
@Farooq that's right
user116848
Thanks to all you guys
user116848
Appreciate it
Jasper Loy
Jasper Loy
That would be a million dollars, lol.
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
You're welcome
user116848
Jun 16, 2014 14:33
Perhaps can buy you all a car :)
user116848
It was a joke
user116848
Not rich
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
it's OK. we don't know where you live, so we can't send the bailiffs around
user116848
Bailiff? But if you knew?
user116848
:)
Matt Эллен
Matt Эллен
Jun 16, 2014 14:36
:D
 
Conversation ended Jun 16, 2014 at 14:36.