This document explains how to change direct speech into reported speech by modifying verb tenses and other elements like pronouns, adverbs of time and place. When reporting speech, the tense of the verb in the reported clause is usually changed to be one tense back compared to the tense of the reporting verb. Pronouns, adverbs of time and place, and other elements are also typically changed to be consistent with the fact that a past reporting verb is being used to report past speech or a situation.

1. REPORTED SPEECH

2. When the main verb of
the sentence (reporting
verb) is in the past
tense, the tense in the
reported statement is
changed.

3. Direct speech Reported speech
Present Simple Past Simple
“I don’t like the He said (that) he
idea,” he said. didn’t like the idea.

4. Direct speech Reported speech
Present Past
Continuous Continuous
“I’m trying to listen He said he
to the music,” was trying to
he said. listen to the music.

5. Direct speech Reported speech
Present Perfect Past Perfect
“I haven’t been ill for She said she
ages,” she said. hadn’t been ill
for ages.

6. Direct speech Reported speech
Past Simple Past Perfect
He said, “I stayed He said he had
at a hotel for stayed at a hotel
a few days.” for a few days.

7. Direct speech Reported speech
Past Continuous Past Perfect
Continuous
They said, “We They said they had
were thinking of been thinking of
selling the house.” selling the house.

8. Direct speech Reported speech
am/are/is going to was/were going to
Mary said, “ I’m Mary said she was
going to move going to move to a
to a new house.” new house.

9. Direct speech Reported speech
will would
“I will get the job,” He said he would
he said. get the job.

10. Direct speech Reported speech
can could
He said, “I can He said he could
do it myself.” do it himself.

11. Direct speech Reported speech
may might
My father said, My father said
”It may rain.” it might rain.

12. Direct speech Reported speech
must must (deductions) /
had to (obligations)
“I must go,” she She said she must
said. go / she had to go.

13. Direct speech Reported speech
would, should, would, should,
might, could might, could
He said, “You He said I could be
could be right.” right.

14. Direct speech Reported speech
OTHER CHANGES
tomorrow the next day /
the following day
yesterday the day before
today that day
this morning, … that morning, …
tonight that night

15. Direct speech Reported speech
on /next Tuesday the following / next
Tuesday
last Tuesday the previous
Tuesday
ago before
“two days ago” “two days before”
the day before two days before
yesterday
the day after in two days’ time
tomorrow

16. Direct speech Reported speech
here there
this / that the
PRONOUNS
“I will lend you my car,” he told Mary.
He told Mary he would lend her his
car.

17. Statements
Reporting verbs
say / say to object (that) – say to him
say to Mary
tell object (that) – tell him / tell Mary
add that , admit that, answer that
explain that, etc.
Tom said, ‘I’ve just heard the news’
Tom said he had just heard the news.

18. Questions
Reporting verbs
ask (object), wonder, inquire,
want to know, etc.
+ question word + subject + verb
‘Where are you going, Mary?’ he asked.
He asked Mary where she was going.
+ if or whether + subject + verb
‘Did you see the accident?’ the policeman
asked.
The policeman asked if I had seen the
accident.

19. Commands, requests, advice,
suggestions, …
Reporting verbs
tell, order, instruct + object + to infinitive
‘Get your coat, Tom!’ she said.
She told Tom to get his coat.
ask, beg + object + to infinitive
‘Can you open the window, please?’
Helen asked.
Helen asked me to open the window.

20. Suggest, recommend + gerund / that
(should)
“Let’s watch the match”, my father said.
My father suggested watching the match.
offer + to infinitive
“Shall I carry your bag?” Martin asked.
Martin offered to carry my bag.

21. invite, urge, advise, remind + object +
to infinitive
“Would you like to have lunch with me
on Sunday?” he said to me.
He invited me to have lunch with him
the following Sunday.