REPORTED SPEECH

When the main verb of the sentence (reporting verb) is in the past tense, the tense in the reported statement is changed.

Direct speech Reported speech

Present Simple Past Simple

“I don’t like the He said (that) heidea,” he said. didn’t like the idea.

Direct speech Reported speech

Present PastContinuous Continuous

“I’m trying to listen He said he to the music,” was trying to he said. listen to the music.

Direct speech Reported speech

Present Perfect Past Perfect

“I haven’t been ill for She said she ages,” she said. hadn’t been ill for ages.

Direct speech Reported speech

Past Simple Past Perfect

He said, “I stayed He said he had at a hotel for stayed at a hotel a few days.” for a few days.

Direct speech Reported speech

Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous

They said, “We They said they had were thinking of been thinking of selling the house.” selling the house.

Direct speech Reported speech

am/are/is going to was/were going to

Mary said, “ I’m Mary said she was going to move going to move to a to a new house.” new house.

Direct speech Reported speech

will would

“I will get the job,” He said he would he said. get the job.

Direct speech Reported speech

can could

He said, “I can He said he could do it myself.” do it himself.

Direct speech Reported speech

may might

My father said, My father said ”It may rain.” it might rain.

Direct speech Reported speech

must must (deductions) / had to (obligations)

“I must go,” she She said she must said. go / she had to go.

Direct speech Reported speech

would, should, would, should, might, could might, could

He said, “You He said I could be could be right.” right.

Direct speech Reported speech OTHER CHANGES

tomorrow the next day / the following dayyesterday the day beforetoday that daythis morning, … that morning, …tonight that night

Direct speech Reported speechon /next Tuesday the following / next Tuesdaylast Tuesday the previous Tuesdayago before“two days ago” “two days before”the day before two days beforeyesterdaythe day after in two days’ time tomorrow

Direct speech Reported speech

here therethis / that the

PRONOUNS

“I will lend you my car,” he told Mary.

He told Mary he would lend her his car.

Statements Reporting verbs

say / say to object (that) – say to him say to Marytell object (that) – tell him / tell Maryadd that , admit that, answer thatexplain that, etc.

Tom said, ‘I’ve just heard the news’Tom said he had just heard the news.

Questions Reporting verbsask (object), wonder, inquire,want to know, etc. + question word + subject + verb‘Where are you going, Mary?’ he asked.He asked Mary where she was going. + if or whether + subject + verb‘Did you see the accident?’ the policeman asked.The policeman asked if I had seen the accident.

Commands, requests, advice, suggestions, …

Reporting verbstell, order, instruct + object + to infinitive

‘Get your coat, Tom!’ she said.She told Tom to get his coat.

ask, beg + object + to infinitive

‘Can you open the window, please?’ Helen asked.Helen asked me to open the window.

Suggest, recommend + gerund / that (should)

“Let’s watch the match”, my father said.My father suggested watching the match.

offer + to infinitive“Shall I carry your bag?” Martin asked.Martin offered to carry my bag.

invite, urge, advise, remind + object + to infinitive

“Would you like to have lunch with me on Sunday?” he said to me.He invited me to have lunch with him the following Sunday.