The document discusses the differences between direct and reported speech. It provides examples of how tenses are typically changed when converting direct speech to reported or indirect speech, such as changing present simple to past simple, present continuous to past continuous, and so on. The examples cover a wide range of verb tenses including present, past, perfect, and continuous tenses.

1. DIRECT & INDIRECT
SPEECH

2. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Simple Past Simple
 "He's American," she  She said he was
said. American.
 "I'm happy to see you,"  Mary said that she was
Mary said. happy to see me.
 " He asked, "Are you  He asked me if I was
busy tonight?" busy tonight.

3. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Continuous Past Continuous
 "Dan is living in San  She said Dan was living
Francisco," she said. in San Francisco.
 " He said, "I'm making  He said that he was
dinner." making dinner.
 "Why are you working  They asked me why I
so hard?" they asked. was working so hard.

4. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Past Simple Past Perfect
Simple
• "We went to the movies • He said they had gone
last night," he said. to the movies last night.
• " Greg said, "I didn't go • Greg said that he
to work yesterday." hadn't gone to work
yesterday.
• "Did you buy a new
car?" she asked. • She asked me if I had
bought a new car.

5. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Past Continuous Past Perfect
Continuous
• "I was working late • Vicki said she'd been
last night," Vicki said. working last night.
• " They said, "we weren't • They said that they hadn't
waiting long." been waiting long.
• " He asked, "were you • He asked if I'd been
sleeping when I sleeping when he called.
called?"

6. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Simple Simple
• " Heather said, "I've • Heather said that
already eaten." she'd already eaten.
• "We haven't been to • They said they hadn't
China," they said. been to China.
• "Have you worked • I asked her whether
here before?" I asked. she'd worked there
before.

7. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Continuous Continuous
• "I've been studying • He said he'd been
English for two years," studying English for
he said. two years.
• " Steve said, "we've • Steve said that they'd
been dating for over a been dating for over
year now." a year.
• "Have you been • They asked whether
waiting long?" they I'd been waiting

8. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Past Perfect Simple Past Perfect Simple
(*NO CHANGE)
• "I'd been to Chicago • He said that he'd
before for work," he been to Chicago
said. before for work.

9. Direct Speech Reported Speech
Past Perfect Past Perfect
Continuous Continuous (*NO
CHANGE)
• " She said, "I'd been • She said she'd been
dancing for years dancing for years
before the accident." before the accident.