How to use the correct tenses?
1. I was told that I needed to come to dean's office.
2. She has been taught to follow the standards that her parents have set for her.
3. Teacher told us that we needed to do things in this way.
4. She told me that she was going to do this.
5. My friend told me that she was going to throw a part today.

My question is can I use the present tense after I was told, and told me?
Teacher told us that we need to do this way. In stead of we "needed"
I am kind of confused of using these tense correctly.Are the sentences I wrote correctly, and can I replaced them with the present tense after I told you and I was told?

Question

How to use the correct tenses?
1. I was told that I needed to come to dean's office.
2. She has been taught to follow the standards that her parents have set for her.
3. Teacher told us that we needed to do things in this way.
4. She told me that she was going to do this.
5. My friend told me that she was going to throw a part today.

My question is can I use the present tense after I was told, and told me?
Teacher told us that we need to do this way. In stead of we "needed"
I am kind of confused of using these tense correctly.Are the sentences I wrote correctly, and can I replaced them with the present tense after I told you and I was told?

Answer

Hi Jack,
You can use present tenses after told if you talk about something that is generally true and doesn't change immediately.
For example: personal information as names, nationality, age, sex or things to describe the real world.
"He told me his name is Jack", "He said Ireland is a nice country".

Answer

Generally, all verbs are shifted "back" in time, but there are some exceptions.

More information here:
https://www.ef.com/ca/english-resources/english-grammar/tense-changes-when-using-reported-speech/

Answer

Hi Jack,
I think you could use the present tense in n. 3 because it refers to things you should always do in a certain way.
Number 2 is followed by the infinitive as it is an order and you can't change it.
IN n. 1, 4 and 5 you could use the present tense only if the action in the sentence after told has not happened yet.
1. "I was told I need to go to the Dean's office" ( you haven't gone yet).
4. She told me she is going to do this. (You should use THAT as in reported speech you have to change THIS for THAT). She hasn't done it yet.
5. My friend told me he is going to throw a party (He hasn't thrown it yet).

Answer

Are the sentences I wrote correctly, and can I replaced them with the present tense after I told you and I was told?

Answer

You must always apply the same rules which you use for normal coniguations.

For example:
I was told that my son and your daughter are friends.
They are still friends so "the action" expressed by the verb to be is not finished.

Instead:
I was told you were dead.
Or "3. Teacher told us that we needed to do things in this way."
It means that you were dead, so the verb expresses a completed action. Or in your example, the things you did, were done, were finished.

It is always the same.

Answers · 9

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