5. TENSE CHANGES
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Simple Past Simple
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Past Simple Past Perfect
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Am / is / are going to Was / were going to
Must Had to
Will Would
* Modal Verbs (could, should, would and might ) do not
change
6. EXAMPLES
Direct Speech Reported Speech
I am ill She said she was ill.
They are studying Maths She said they were studying Maths.
She phoned me yesterday. She said that she had phoned the day
before.
Simon has come back from He said that Simon had come back from
Paris. Paris.
He is going to prepare She said that he was going to prepare
dinner. dinner.
You must finish before 9. He said that I had to finish before 9.
I will bring you a blanket. He said he would bring me a blanket.
7. TIME EXPRESSIONS
Direct speech Reported speech
now ➙ then
today ➙ that day
tonight ➙ that night
yesterday ➙ the day before
the following day / the
tomorrow ➙
next day
next day / week / month the following day / week
➙
/ year / month / year
9. REPORTED STATEMENTS
introduced by reporting verbs
say, tell, explain, inform, state, decid
e etc.
often followed by that
Direct speech:
“You must go”, Jack said.
Reported speech:
Jack told me (that) I had to go.
10. REPORTED QUESTIONS
introduced by reporting verbs
ask, inquire, wonder, want to know
have direct !!! word order
yes/no questions start with if / whether
no question marks
no polite words like please or well
11. EXAMPLES
“Can you hold the door for me please?”
the man asked.
The man asked if/whether I could hold
the door for him.
“Where are you going?” asked Sam.
Sam asked her where she was going.
12. REPORTED COMMANDS AND REQUESTS
introduced by reporting verbs advise,
ask, beg, tell, order etc
followed by the infinitive with to
followed by not to if the request is
negative
13. EXAMPLES
“Put the gun down”, he said to him.
He ordered him to put the gun down.
“Please, please, don’t call the police”, he
said to Colin.
He begged Colin not to call the police.
