Thread: American English

I was told that in American English the sequence of tenses rules are slightly reduced, i.e.:

American English: I said that I am an Engineer
Britain English: I said that I was an Engineer

Is it right ???

Originally Posted by Chuvak

I was told that in American English the sequence of tenses rules are slightly reduced, i.e.:

American English: I said that I am an Engineer

I currently am an Engineer.

Britain English: I said that I was an Engineer

I used to be an Engineer but am no longer.

Is it right ???

I speak American English. If I was to say past tense I would use the "British English" example above.

Scott

I don't really agree with this -- I've heard plenty of Americans say both variants. Perhaps in the commonwealth countries there is some clear-cut variant, but that's not really the case in the US, I'd say.

Shouldn't the variant 'I said that I am an Engineer' only be used if the speaker is still an engineer (at the moment of speaking)?
And if he is no longer an engineer (at the moment of speaking), shouldn't 'I said that I was an Engineer' be the only possible version?

Originally Posted by Vadim84

Shouldn't the variant 'I said that I am an Engineer' only be used if the speaker is still an engineer (at the moment of speaking)?
And if he is no longer an engineer (at the moment of speaking), shouldn't 'I said that I was an Engineer' be the only possible version?

I've been taught that "I said I am" is incorrect except direct speech:
I said: 'I am...' and when you're narrating then you should use sequence of tenses rules: I said I was...
Either my teachers were wrong or people often neglect rules while speaking.
Or, maybe, the rules have changed over time.

Originally Posted by Ramil

or people often neglect rules while speaking.

Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner...

Originally Posted by Бармалей

Originally Posted by Ramil

or people often neglect rules while speaking.

Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner...

Well, I don't know what to say. I want to say thanks to the Academy, to Mama, to Papa and to my dog. I love you all.

Thanks !!!

BTW, Can I use the adjective "abhorrent" referring to people, i.e. is it natural to say "I'm gonna eliminate all my most abhorrent enemies" ???

Originally Posted by Chuvak

Thanks !!!

BTW, Can I use the adjective "abhorrent" referring to people, i.e. is it natural to say "I'm gonna eliminate all my most abhorrent enemies" ???

I suppose so, but it's much more common to use it to refer to a thing or an idea ("fascism is an abhorent ideology").

plus -- it's not likely you would want to use "gonna" and "abhorent" in the same sentence! They are from different registers.

Originally Posted by chaika

plus -- it's not likely you would want to use "gonna" and "abhorent" in the same sentence! They are from different registers.

That is true but if one wanted to add a touch of comedy if would be OK.

I said I was... period

I believe you can use the present if it is, in fact, true information. But: "I told him I was a zebra."

Originally Posted by challenger

I believe you can use the present if it is, in fact, true information. But: "I told him I was a zebra."

You are a very talented zebra, to be able to type dispite having the clunky hooves.

Originally Posted by Бармалей

Originally Posted by challenger

I believe you can use the present if it is, in fact, true information. But: "I told him I was a zebra."

You are a very talented zebra, to be able to type dispite having the clunky hooves.

- Алло, вам говорящая лошадь не нужна?
[бросают трубку]
- Алло, вам говорящая лошадь не нужна?
[бросают трубку]
- Алло, вам говорящая лошадь не нужна?
- Сколько можно звонить?! НЕ НУЖНА!!!
- Так бы сразу и сказали... Думаете, легко копытом номер набирать?

Originally Posted by Бармалей

Originally Posted by challenger

I believe you can use the present if it is, in fact, true information. But: "I told him I was a zebra."

You are a very talented zebra, to be able to type dispite having the clunky hooves.

So are you, despite your spelling

Originally Posted by challenger

Originally Posted by Бармалей

Originally Posted by challenger

I believe you can use the present if it is, in fact, true information. But: "I told him I was a zebra."

You are a very talented zebra, to be able to type dispite having the clunky hooves.

So are you, despite your spelling

Yeah, I know. Scary to think that I'm actually a scary native English speaker, eh? DESPITE my crummy spelling, I'm actually far worse a speaker of Russian...