Repiring the car

[Azitan]

His car is not working. I asked him to repair it.

 

'

.....................................................

He told me that it is impossible to repair.

 

He told me it is impossible to repair.

 

He told me that it was impossible to repair,

 

He told me it was impossible to repair.

....................................................

 

 

I write 4 sentences. Which is the correct one?

[Bazza]

All four, with regard to tense, depending on the context.

 

This is another example where 'that' can be omitted and the meaning remains clear.

 

My car is not working. He told me that it is impossible to repair. I don't know whether to get another opinion or just sell it for parts.

My car is not working. He told me that it was impossible to repair, but I asked my uncle and he said he can fix it easily, so I'm taking it over to my uncle's house.

 

 

'

.................................................. ...

He told me that it is impossible to repair.

[Azitan]

Thank you Bazza

I thought when you write the verb 'told' , it would be wrong to write verb 'is'.

You think it is all right to write 'is' or 'was'.

 

He told me yesterday and I am telling it to you today.

I think I must use the verb 'was' in this case.

You could help me again.

[Bazza]

He told me yesterday and I am telling it to you today.

I think I must use the verb 'was' in this case.

You could help me again.

 

To use 'was telling', then the time you were telling him must have been before NOW. NOW is a second conversation, when you are saying these words. e.g.

 

He told me yesterday and I was telling it to you this morning. Have you forgotten already?

Can you see that 'was telling' happened at an earlier time in the day, before NOW when you are again talking to this person, and he seems to have forgotten what you told him earlier.