3. RULE 1
If the reporting verb is in the present or future
tense, the verb in the reported speech is not
changed at all
Direct: Tom says, "there is no ink in the ink-pot”
Indirect: Tom says that there is no ink in the ink-
pot
Direct: The headmaster says, “Marry will fail”.
Indirect: The head master says that marry will fail
4. RULE 2
If the reporting verb is in the past tense the
verb in the reported speech is also changed to
the past tense.
To work out this rule smoothly, note the
following special rules:--
11. RULE 3
If the reported speech contains some
universal or habitual fact, then the
simple present in the reported speech
remains unchanged
Direct: The teacher said, “Honesty is
the best policy”
Indirect: The teacher said that honesty
is the best policy
13. RULE 4
Pronouns of the first person in the direct speech
are changed in indirect speech to the same person
as the subject in the introductory verb.
Direct: John said, “I am busy”
Indirect: John said that he was busy
14. Rule 5
Pronouns of the second person in direct speech
are changed in indirect speech to the same
person as the noun or pronoun which comes
after the introductory verb.
Direct: Harish said to me "you are wrong”.
Indirect: Harish told me that I was wrong
15. RULE 6
Pronoun of the third person in direct
speech remain the same in indirect
speech.
Direct: Harish said to me ”he is ill”
Indirect: Harish said to me that he was ill
16. CHANGE OF TIME
RULE 7
Change of time
Direct speech Indirect speech
Now Then
This That
These Those
Here There
Ago Before
Today That day
Tomorrow The next day
Yesterday The previous day
Last night The previous night
When turning a sentence from direct speech into indirect speech, words
showing nearness are changed into words showing distance