I have to transfer this sentence from reported speech into direct speech:
Tom had had a car accident the week before and he had been ill since then.
Is there a difference in meaning between these two sentences?
- Tom: "I had a car accident last week and I have been ill since then."
- Tom: "I had a car accident a week ago and I have been ill since then."
Are both sentences correct. Or can " a week ago" only be used in end position and may not be followed by a secend sentence connected with and?