1. 기본적인 원칙사항
일단 한국식의 문법으로 설명하자면, 간접 화법에 관련된 것은 다 종속절입니다. 일단 영어의 기본은 주절의 시제에 종속절이 맞추어야 한다는 것이므로, 주절의 시제와 일치시키는 경우가 많습니다. 일단 말을 한다는 것은 그 당시의 상황을 그대로 전달하는 경우가 많기 때문입니다.
ex) 'Tim is much better' -> She said that Tim was much better.
'I'm planning to buy a new car.' -> Ian told me that he was planning to buy a new car.
'I've never worked so hard before.' Our decorator remarked that he had never worked so hard before.
2. 현재를 쓰는 경우
우리가 알고 있는 사실이 늘 있는 것이거나 항상 진리인 것이나 등을 얘기할때는 주절이 과거라도 주로 현재를 쓰는 경우가 많습니다.
ex) Dr. Weir thinks that he spends about 5 minutes on a typical consultation with a patient.
Australian scientists claim that they have developed a way of producing more accurate weather forecasts.
Jill says that Colin has been found safe and well.
물론 과거시제와 현재시제를 둘 다 써도 문제가 되지는 않습니다만 뉘앙스의 차이가 벌어지게 됩니다.
ex) She argued that Carl is/was the best person for the job.
He said that he is/was living in Oslo.
I told Rosa that I don't/didn't like going to parties.
They noted that the rate of inflation has/had slowed down.
현재시제를 썼다는 것은 지금 우리가 전달하는 시점까지도 그 일들이 사실이거나, 여전히 신뢰할 수 있음을 뜻합니다. 과거를 썼다는 것은 이러한 신뢰도에 금이 가고 있음을 의미하는 것이죠.
ex) Sarah told me that she has two houses.
Sarah told me that she had two houses.
-> 뉘앙스의 차이를 잘 되새겨 보시길.. ^^;
3. 과거시제의 사용
일반적으로 주절의 시제가 과거이면 그대로 과거 시제를 사용합니다.
ex) 'I don't want anything to eat.' - Mark said that he didn't want anything to eat.
'I'm leaving!' - Bob announced that he was leaving.
'The problem is being dealt with by the manager.'
-> She told me that the problem was being dealt with by the manager.
4. 과거 완료 시제의 사용
말하고 있는 내용이 말하고 있을때보다 훨씬 이전에 일어난 일이라면, 종속절의 시제가 과거완료가 됩니다. 물론 단순 과거 시제도 사용할 수 있습니다.
ex) 'I learnt how to eat with chopsticks when I was in Hong Kong.'
-> Mary said that she had learnt/learnt how to eat with chopsticks when she was in Hong Kong.
'I posted the card yesterday.' -> She reassured me that she had posted/posted the card.
'I've seen the film before.' -> She told me that she had seen the film before.
'I've been spending a lot more time with my children.'
-> He mentioned that he had been spending a lot more time with his children.