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English grammar

 
 
Reply Mon 25 Mar, 2013 05:49 pm
Q1

I would like to change the following wish from the present to past.
(I wish that I were going to Switzerland.)
And I come up with two following sentences..
Which one is right?
1.I had gone to Switzerland
2.I had been going to Switzerland.

Q2
Ed (says, said) that he plans to go fishing this weekend.

Can I use both of the choices?

Q3

I would like to change from direct speech to indirect speech.

In tomorrow's speech, the ambassador will say, "We need to negotiate this treaty."
In tomorrow's speech, the ambassador will say that we (will,would)need to negotiate this treaty."

Can I use both choices?


Thank you so much. Smile
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dalehileman
 
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Reply Mon 25 Mar, 2013 06:15 pm
@jangsunny1030,
Q1

Quote:
I would like to change the following wish from the present to past.
(I wish that I were going to Switzerland.)
And I come up with two following sentences..
Which one is right?
1.I had gone to Switzerland
2.I had been going to Switzerland.
Neither one. You'd say instead, "I wished that I were going to Switzerland" or "I wish that I had gone to Switzerland," depending on exactly what you mean by "the following wish"

Quote:
Q2
Ed (says, said) that he plans to go fishing this weekend.
Can I use both of the choices?
Yes but "says" implies a more recent statement

Quote:
Q3

I would like to change from direct speech to indirect speech.

In tomorrow's speech, the ambassador will say, "We need to negotiate this treaty."
In tomorrow's speech, the ambassador will say that we (will, would) need to negotiate this treaty."

Can I use both choices?
Depends on what you mean by "both". If you're comparing the first sentence with the second than no you can't. The first implies that you know exactly what he's going to say; the second that you're not sure precisely

If by "both" you mean "will" v "would"; then either is okay but there's a very subtle difference in meaning. If "would," then we might not need to
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JTT
 
  1  
Reply Mon 25 Mar, 2013 08:22 pm
@jangsunny1030,
Quote:
I would like to change the following wish from the present to past.
(I wish that I were going to Switzerland.)
And I come up with two following sentences..
Which one is right?
1.I had gone to Switzerland
2.I had been going to Switzerland.


First, wishes don't have a past, JS. Resulting realities have pasts.

I wish that I were/was going to Switzerland.

First reality - You went to Switzerland.

1. I went to Switzerland.

2. I've been to Switzerland.

3. I had gone to Switzerland [a possible use in more limited situations]

4. I wish I hadn't gone to ... .

Second reality - You didn't go to Switzerland.

1. I didn't go to ... .

2. I haven't been to ... [yet].

3. I wish I had gone to ... .

===========

Quote:
Q2
Ed (says, said) that he plans to go fishing this weekend.

Can I use both of the choices?


Absolutely.

Quote:
Q3

I would like to change from direct speech to indirect speech.

In tomorrow's speech, the ambassador will say, "We need to negotiate this treaty."
In tomorrow's speech, the ambassador will say that we (will,would)need to negotiate this treaty.

Can I use both choices?


If by 'both' you mean the addition of either 'will' or 'would', again absolutely you can.

With such a simple sentence, you could even say,

In tomorrow's speech, the ambassador will say that we need to negotiate this treaty.





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