"저는 동료가 많다고 말했습니다."
Translation:I said I have many colleagues.
November 6, 2017
5 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
This discussion is locked.
OKAMOTO_Yusuke
2948
It should be "I said I had many colleagues" because of the sequence of tenses. "I said I have many colleagues" does not comply with the sequence of tenses and should be marked incorrect. Reported on Dec. 17, 2017.
oee16
275
In English, tense backshifting in reported speech/indirect quotes is applied most of the times, but not always.
Backshifting is:
• optional if the situation is still true
• not applicable for general truth.
Avoid backshifting if the original verb (tense used in the direct quote) is
• in past perfect
• could/might/would/should.
Backshifting is optional in the given example. Neither you nor DLG is wrong. Just a matter of DLG accepting your suggestion as an alternative answer.