1) This document discusses how to change direct speech to reported speech by making changes in tenses, time/place, pronouns, and word order.
2) Key changes include changing present tenses to past tenses, changing adverbs referring to time and place, and substituting third person pronouns for first and second person pronouns.
3) However, tenses are not changed when the reported statement refers to an ongoing action or universal fact.
2. Converting Direct Speech
to Reported Speech
Some changes are necessary:
1) Changes in tenses
2) Changes in time/place
3) Changes in pronouns
4) Changes in word order
3. • Reporting direct speeches
Changing tenses according to tenses
of reporting verbs
John says, “I am eight years
old.”
John says that he is eight
years old.
4. My father said,” I have finished my
work.”
My father said that he had finished
his work.
Kandi told me,” I noticed you in the
park.”
Kandi told me that she had noticed
me in the park.
5. Direct Reported
am/is was
are were
has/have had
do/does did
went had gone
was/were had been
can could
will would
had had had
must had to
6. 2. Not changing tenses when an action is still going
on or when a universal fact is reported
He said, “I am an interior decorator.”
He said that he is an interior decorator.
The teacher said, “Oxygen is produced
during photosynthesis.”
The teacher said that oxygen is produced
during photosynthesis.
8. 3. Changing adverbs (when the main verb is in the
past tense)
Mrs Goh added, ”I will be leaving next week.”
Mrs Goh added that she would be leaving
the following week / the week after.
Bobby said, “I shall be at the game tonight.”
Bobby said that he would be at the game
that night.
9. Direct Reported
now then
here there
this that
these those
today that day
tomorrow the next day/the following
day/the day after
yesterday the previous day/the day
before
last night the previous night/
the night before
next week the following week
ago before
10. 4. Changing pronouns (when the main verb is in the
past tense)
Joshua said, ”I will return the book myself.”
Joshua said that he would return the book
himself.
She said, ”We can complete it on our own.”
She said that they could complete it on
their own.
11. Direct Reported
I he/she
me him/her
my his/her
mine his/hers
we they
our their
ours theirs
you I/me/him/her/he/she/
they/them
your my/his/her/their
yours mine/his/hers/theirs
12.
13. Jim said, “I shall have plenty of work to do
tomorrow.”
Jim said that he would have plenty of work
to do the following day / the next day.
Mr Sim told the class, “The capital of
Sweden is Stockholm.”
Mr Sim told the class that the capital of
Sweden is Stockholm.
14. “Could you take a photo of us with my
camera?” the Japanese man asked me.
The Japanese man asked me if / whether I
could take a photo of them with his camera.
The news report said, “Many places were
flooded yesterday.”
The news report said that many places
were flooded the previous day / the day
before.