Question

He told me that he will be absent today. Is this a correct sentence?

Answer 1

Answer:

Yes it's a right answer.

Answer 2

Answer:

No, the given sentence is not a correct sentence.  

The correct sentence: He told me that he would be absent that day.

Explanation:

The sentence is in reported speech and while converting a direct speech to indirect speech, the points to remember are:

• Present tense in direct changes to past tense in reported speech .
• Modal verbs that are used along with the main verb in direct speech should be converted to past form in reported speech. Like,

1. Will – would
2. Shall – should
3. Can – could
4. May – might

• The time and place referred to in direct speech also change its form in reported speech. Like,

1. Now – then
2. Today – that day
3. This week -  that week
4. Tomorrow – the next day or following day
5. Tonight – that night
6. Ago – before.