This document discusses the rules and examples of indirect speech, particularly focusing on tense changes when converting direct speech to indirect speech. It outlines how various verb tenses and modals are transformed, providing examples for clarity. Additionally, it emphasizes that certain modals remain unchanged in indirect speech.

1. 10 Indirect Speech:
Tense Changes
Rumors and Gossip
Focus on Grammar 4
Part X, Unit 26
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.`

2. Rumors and Gossip
Have you heard
Maria said that
Really! Viktor the newsaid that
Larisa teacher
the latest gossip
No, what is it?
Wow!me that I
told Yeah, the new teacher
didn’t givenew
about the any
students
heard he was hadteacher? the
given all
homework.
could eat in
an easy students an A
his class.
teacher. last semester.

3. Indirect Speech 1
When the reporting verb is in the simple past, the verb
tense in the indirect speech statement often changes.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Simple Present  Simple Past
Present Progressive  Past Progressive
Simple Past Tense  Past Perfect
Present Perfect  Past Perfect

4. Examples 1
“The She said
teacher the teacher
is strict.” was strict.
He said
“The teacher the
is giving teacher
everyone an was
A.” giving
everyone
an A.

5. Examples 2
She said
“Somebody somebody
put the final had put the
exam on the final exam
Internet.” on the
Internet.
“The teacher
has graded
our Joe said the
grammar teacher had
tests.” graded our
grammar tests.

6. Change the direct speech
Practice 1 into indirect speech.
Example:
“My friend is helping me study.” She said…
She said her friend was helping her study.
1. “The library is closed.” He said…
He said the library was closed.
closed
2. “We have registered for classes.” They said…
They said they had registered for classes.
3. “She got an A on the test.” You said…
You said she had gotten an A on the test.

7. Indirect Speech 2
Modals often change in indirect speech.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
will  would
can  could
may  might
must  had to

8. Examples 1
“The test He said the
will be test would be
difficult.” difficult.
“You can She said we
use your could use
notes on our notes
the test.” on the test.

9. Examples 2
“We may
She said we
have a
might have a
substitute
substitute
teacher.”
teacher.
“You must
study hard She said we
for the final had to study
exam.” hard for the
final exam.

10. Change the direct speech
Practice 2 into indirect speech.
Example:
“You can relax about the exam.” She said…
She said I could relax about the exam.
1. “We’ll help you with your homework.” They said…
They said they would help me with my homework.
2. “Anna must finish her paper.” He said…
He said Anna had to finish her paper.
3. “She may take a different class.” You said…
You said she might take a different class.

11. Indirect Speech 3
The following modals do not change in indirect
speech: should, could, might, and ought to.
“You She said I
shouldn’t shouldn’t tell
tell this this secret to
secret to anyone.
anyone.”
“You ought He said I
to tell this to ! ought to tell
a friend.” this to a
friend.

12. Indirect Speech 4
The following do not change in indirect speech: the
past perfect, the present and past unreal conditional,
and past modals.
“If“I had studied,gotten
I could I had I would
“I thought have chosen He said he he had studied,
HeHe said thought he had
said if he could have
have from a tutor.”
help gotten an A.”
the easy teacher.” he wouldhelp from a tutor.
chosen the easy teacher.A.
gotten have gotten an

13. Change the direct speech
Practice 3 into indirect speech.
Example:
“We ought to study some more.” He said…
He said we ought to study some more.
1. “If I knew, I would tell you.” She said…
She said if she knew, she would tell me.
2. “I might have known the test was difficult.” He said…
He said he might have known the test was
difficult.
3. “She had had that teacher before.” We said…
We said she had had that teacher before.

14. References
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.