a reported speech question...
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/07/world/asia/philippines-typhoon-haiyan/index.html?c=intl-homepage-t&page=2

Authorities in Cebu said they were unable to establish whether a woman who was hit by a falling coconut tree in the north of the province was dead or
injured.

I want to ask if the below sentence is correct before being reported? If positive, why it's not "had been hit" in the report speech? Thank you in advance.

We are unable to establish whether a woman who was hit by a falling coconut tree in the north of the province is dead or injured.

Question

a reported speech question...
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/07/world/asia/philippines-typhoon-haiyan/index.html?c=intl-homepage-t&page=2

Authorities in Cebu said they were unable to establish whether a woman who was hit by a falling coconut tree in the north of the province was dead or
injured.

I want to ask if the below sentence is correct before being reported?  If positive, why it's not "had been hit"  in the report speech?  Thank you in advance.

We are unable to establish whether a woman who was hit by a falling coconut tree in the north of the province is dead or injured.

Answer

Hi Paul - I think you raise a valid question and my conclusion would be the same as yours. The two possibilities for the original sentence are 'has been hit' or 'was hit', and in either case, the past tense in the reporting main clause should result in a backshift to 'had been hit' in the subordinate clause.  There are exceptions to this rule (main clause tense governs tense in subordinate clause) but I cannot see one here and I would say that the backshift is necessary to maintain the order in which these actions happened.

Answer

I'd say that it's written that way because it's in a relative clause.

Answers · 2

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