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She told me that she HAS / HAD a gun

Indirect speech: is “has been” acceptable in “…the matter has been taken up with Saudi authorities”?Backshifting in reported speech - “I wanted to let you know that he HAS/HAD sent you the letter”“He had a gun.” or “He has had a gun.”Facts in reported speech – to backshift or notWhen are words like “that” and “the” unnecessary?“Could you tell me where she works?” vs “Could you tell me where she worked?”Backshifting: past simple to past perfecthad selected vs. selectedWhat is the rule of tense backshifting in a subordinate clause following a past form modal verb?Reported speech (back shifting of tense) queryIndirect speech: is “has been” acceptable in “…the matter has been taken up with Saudi authorities”?Reported speech (back shifting of tense)“He didn't say he liked coffee” or “He didn't say he likes coffee”?Is this “It could've been more thrilling as I was expecting something more at that time.” correct?before with past tense

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2

I edited this question, since the original (or current one, revised by ColleenV) post has this sentence.

For instance, in “She told me that she has a gun”,

I edited this sentence to

For instance, in “She told me that she had a gun”,

because I was taught in my country, that if the main verb is the past sentence, the verbs after the "that clause" follows the same time tense of the main clause "generally" (if the verb in the main clause is the present tense, either the past tense can apply after the that-clause, or if the verb in the main clause is the past tense, either the past tense or the perfect past can apply (in this case, it is "She told me")).

But ColleenV advised me "Dude, you are not correct, has is O.K" (frankly saying).

But according to this English site (in English), the idea is same with mine too, accordingly,

Some verbs (generally those connected with reporting) can be followed by an indirect object (underlined) plus a that-clause acting as the direct object:

Examples

He told us that it would take a long time.

She convinced me I was wrong.

(as it is based on the premise that the verb "convince" is under the same category with the verb "tell", which is the reporting verb.

So, which one is correct? Is it mine or Colleen's advice?

Thank you for your tip no matter which is correct in advance.

---

Thank you very much for your answer typleA.

Since, excuse me, I am not a native speaker, it would take a lot of time to "discuss" this issue if I have to make a through research in English. So excuse me to quote a source in my own language.

The above site is listing the patterns when the agreement of the time sequence would not apply. And one case is listed accordingly, it says,

(2)
現在なお続く状態や習慣を表す場合

Translated

(2) When the case in question is still continuing even now or in case when it it is habitual. (So literally, same with your answer.)

The station master told me that the first train starts at five.
　
He said that he rises early every morning.

---

ただし習慣的な事柄でも現在どうなっているかを考慮しない場合には過去形にすることができます。

Translated

However, the case in question does not need to address if the situation is still going on or what is happening now on it, you can have the verb in that-clause as the past tense.

He said that he rose early every morning.

Thanks!

sequence-of-tenses backshifting

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

J.R.♦

103k88 gold badges134134 silver badges256256 bronze badges

asked 10 hours ago

Kentaro TomonoKentaro Tomono

88511 gold badge1010 silver badges2121 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Related: ell.stackexchange.com/questions/161622, ell.stackexchange.com/questions/38886, ell.stackexchange.com/a/70423/3395.
  
  – userr2684291
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Possible duplicate of "He had a gun." or "He has had a gun."
  
  – Rob
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

I edited this question, since the original (or current one, revised by ColleenV) post has this sentence.

For instance, in “She told me that she has a gun”,

I edited this sentence to

For instance, in “She told me that she had a gun”,

because I was taught in my country, that if the main verb is the past sentence, the verbs after the "that clause" follows the same time tense of the main clause "generally" (if the verb in the main clause is the present tense, either the past tense can apply after the that-clause, or if the verb in the main clause is the past tense, either the past tense or the perfect past can apply (in this case, it is "She told me")).

But ColleenV advised me "Dude, you are not correct, has is O.K" (frankly saying).

But according to this English site (in English), the idea is same with mine too, accordingly,

Some verbs (generally those connected with reporting) can be followed by an indirect object (underlined) plus a that-clause acting as the direct object:

Examples

He told us that it would take a long time.

She convinced me I was wrong.

(as it is based on the premise that the verb "convince" is under the same category with the verb "tell", which is the reporting verb.

So, which one is correct? Is it mine or Colleen's advice?

Thank you for your tip no matter which is correct in advance.

---

Thank you very much for your answer typleA.

Since, excuse me, I am not a native speaker, it would take a lot of time to "discuss" this issue if I have to make a through research in English. So excuse me to quote a source in my own language.

The above site is listing the patterns when the agreement of the time sequence would not apply. And one case is listed accordingly, it says,

(2)
現在なお続く状態や習慣を表す場合

Translated

(2) When the case in question is still continuing even now or in case when it it is habitual. (So literally, same with your answer.)

The station master told me that the first train starts at five.
　
He said that he rises early every morning.

---

ただし習慣的な事柄でも現在どうなっているかを考慮しない場合には過去形にすることができます。

Translated

However, the case in question does not need to address if the situation is still going on or what is happening now on it, you can have the verb in that-clause as the past tense.

He said that he rose early every morning.

Thanks!

sequence-of-tenses backshifting

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

J.R.♦

103k88 gold badges134134 silver badges256256 bronze badges

asked 10 hours ago

Kentaro TomonoKentaro Tomono

88511 gold badge1010 silver badges2121 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Related: ell.stackexchange.com/questions/161622, ell.stackexchange.com/questions/38886, ell.stackexchange.com/a/70423/3395.
  
  – userr2684291
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Possible duplicate of "He had a gun." or "He has had a gun."
  
  – Rob
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I edited this question, since the original (or current one, revised by ColleenV) post has this sentence.

For instance, in “She told me that she has a gun”,

I edited this sentence to

For instance, in “She told me that she had a gun”,

because I was taught in my country, that if the main verb is the past sentence, the verbs after the "that clause" follows the same time tense of the main clause "generally" (if the verb in the main clause is the present tense, either the past tense can apply after the that-clause, or if the verb in the main clause is the past tense, either the past tense or the perfect past can apply (in this case, it is "She told me")).

But ColleenV advised me "Dude, you are not correct, has is O.K" (frankly saying).

But according to this English site (in English), the idea is same with mine too, accordingly,

Some verbs (generally those connected with reporting) can be followed by an indirect object (underlined) plus a that-clause acting as the direct object:

Examples

He told us that it would take a long time.

She convinced me I was wrong.

(as it is based on the premise that the verb "convince" is under the same category with the verb "tell", which is the reporting verb.

So, which one is correct? Is it mine or Colleen's advice?

Thank you for your tip no matter which is correct in advance.

---

Thank you very much for your answer typleA.

Since, excuse me, I am not a native speaker, it would take a lot of time to "discuss" this issue if I have to make a through research in English. So excuse me to quote a source in my own language.

The above site is listing the patterns when the agreement of the time sequence would not apply. And one case is listed accordingly, it says,

(2)
現在なお続く状態や習慣を表す場合

Translated

(2) When the case in question is still continuing even now or in case when it it is habitual. (So literally, same with your answer.)

The station master told me that the first train starts at five.
　
He said that he rises early every morning.

---

ただし習慣的な事柄でも現在どうなっているかを考慮しない場合には過去形にすることができます。

Translated

However, the case in question does not need to address if the situation is still going on or what is happening now on it, you can have the verb in that-clause as the past tense.

He said that he rose early every morning.

Thanks!

sequence-of-tenses backshifting

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

J.R.♦

103k88 gold badges134134 silver badges256256 bronze badges

asked 10 hours ago

Kentaro TomonoKentaro Tomono

88511 gold badge1010 silver badges2121 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

J.R.♦

103k88 gold badges134134 silver badges256256 bronze badges

asked 10 hours ago

Kentaro TomonoKentaro Tomono

88511 gold badge1010 silver badges2121 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

J.R.♦

103k88 gold badges134134 silver badges256256 bronze badges

asked 10 hours ago

Kentaro TomonoKentaro Tomono

88511 gold badge1010 silver badges2121 bronze badges

edited 6 hours ago

J.R.♦

103k88 gold badges134134 silver badges256256 bronze badges

edited 6 hours ago

J.R.♦

103k88 gold badges134134 silver badges256256 bronze badges

asked 10 hours ago

Kentaro TomonoKentaro Tomono

88511 gold badge1010 silver badges2121 bronze badges

asked 10 hours ago

Kentaro TomonoKentaro Tomono

88511 gold badge1010 silver badges2121 bronze badges

1 Answer
1

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oldest

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6

Both are perfectly correct. The meanings are not exactly the same, and you would use one or the other in different situations.

She told me she has a gun.

Use this form if the situation is ongoing in the present. If a police officer intervened, you might say this to them. The implication is that she still has the gun at the time of your statement, but her telling you happened in the past.

She told me she had a gun.

She doesn't have the gun anymore, or the event as a whole happened in the past. You might say this to the police if asked sometime later, or in court.

@ColleenV was right to roll back your edit as you changed the meaning of a sentence in the post without good reason. It was not a mere typo (and even then you should be careful when editing others' posts and don't do this lightly, but this would be a better discussion for Meta.)

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

TypeIATypeIA

2,10844 silver badges1111 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am sorry, I don't think so. I was taught like a staple the agreement of the tense in the main clause and the that of the verb in the that-clause does not matter if, in this case, she is still holding the gun
  
  – Kentaro Tomono
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  How would've the girl known that when she told me that in the actual future she would still hold her gun?
  
  – Kentaro Tomono
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I'm a native speaker. It does sometimes turn out that what one was taught is wrong or misunderstood. (Note my use of tenses in the previous sentence - same pattern!)
  
  – TypeIA
  9 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There are no quotation marks. The girl didn't say these things, the person who she told said them. If it were a quote, it would be 'She told me "I have a gun."'
  
  – TypeIA
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @KentaroTomono There's no need for habitualness. This answer is correct. There have been other questions about this: e.g., ell.stackexchange.com/questions/161622, ell.stackexchange.com/questions/38886, ell.stackexchange.com/a/70423/3395.
  
  – userr2684291
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

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6

Both are perfectly correct. The meanings are not exactly the same, and you would use one or the other in different situations.

She told me she has a gun.

Use this form if the situation is ongoing in the present. If a police officer intervened, you might say this to them. The implication is that she still has the gun at the time of your statement, but her telling you happened in the past.

She told me she had a gun.

She doesn't have the gun anymore, or the event as a whole happened in the past. You might say this to the police if asked sometime later, or in court.

@ColleenV was right to roll back your edit as you changed the meaning of a sentence in the post without good reason. It was not a mere typo (and even then you should be careful when editing others' posts and don't do this lightly, but this would be a better discussion for Meta.)

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

TypeIATypeIA

2,10844 silver badges1111 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am sorry, I don't think so. I was taught like a staple the agreement of the tense in the main clause and the that of the verb in the that-clause does not matter if, in this case, she is still holding the gun
  
  – Kentaro Tomono
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  How would've the girl known that when she told me that in the actual future she would still hold her gun?
  
  – Kentaro Tomono
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I'm a native speaker. It does sometimes turn out that what one was taught is wrong or misunderstood. (Note my use of tenses in the previous sentence - same pattern!)
  
  – TypeIA
  9 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There are no quotation marks. The girl didn't say these things, the person who she told said them. If it were a quote, it would be 'She told me "I have a gun."'
  
  – TypeIA
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @KentaroTomono There's no need for habitualness. This answer is correct. There have been other questions about this: e.g., ell.stackexchange.com/questions/161622, ell.stackexchange.com/questions/38886, ell.stackexchange.com/a/70423/3395.
  
  – userr2684291
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

6

Both are perfectly correct. The meanings are not exactly the same, and you would use one or the other in different situations.

She told me she has a gun.

Use this form if the situation is ongoing in the present. If a police officer intervened, you might say this to them. The implication is that she still has the gun at the time of your statement, but her telling you happened in the past.

She told me she had a gun.

She doesn't have the gun anymore, or the event as a whole happened in the past. You might say this to the police if asked sometime later, or in court.

@ColleenV was right to roll back your edit as you changed the meaning of a sentence in the post without good reason. It was not a mere typo (and even then you should be careful when editing others' posts and don't do this lightly, but this would be a better discussion for Meta.)

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

TypeIATypeIA

2,10844 silver badges1111 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am sorry, I don't think so. I was taught like a staple the agreement of the tense in the main clause and the that of the verb in the that-clause does not matter if, in this case, she is still holding the gun
  
  – Kentaro Tomono
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  How would've the girl known that when she told me that in the actual future she would still hold her gun?
  
  – Kentaro Tomono
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I'm a native speaker. It does sometimes turn out that what one was taught is wrong or misunderstood. (Note my use of tenses in the previous sentence - same pattern!)
  
  – TypeIA
  9 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There are no quotation marks. The girl didn't say these things, the person who she told said them. If it were a quote, it would be 'She told me "I have a gun."'
  
  – TypeIA
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @KentaroTomono There's no need for habitualness. This answer is correct. There have been other questions about this: e.g., ell.stackexchange.com/questions/161622, ell.stackexchange.com/questions/38886, ell.stackexchange.com/a/70423/3395.
  
  – userr2684291
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

Both are perfectly correct. The meanings are not exactly the same, and you would use one or the other in different situations.

She told me she has a gun.

Use this form if the situation is ongoing in the present. If a police officer intervened, you might say this to them. The implication is that she still has the gun at the time of your statement, but her telling you happened in the past.

She told me she had a gun.

She doesn't have the gun anymore, or the event as a whole happened in the past. You might say this to the police if asked sometime later, or in court.

@ColleenV was right to roll back your edit as you changed the meaning of a sentence in the post without good reason. It was not a mere typo (and even then you should be careful when editing others' posts and don't do this lightly, but this would be a better discussion for Meta.)

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

TypeIATypeIA

2,10844 silver badges1111 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

TypeIATypeIA

2,10844 silver badges1111 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

TypeIATypeIA

2,10844 silver badges1111 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

TypeIATypeIA

2,10844 silver badges1111 bronze badges