Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct and Indirect Speech
(Reported Speech)
We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the
'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like
'my' and 'your'.
But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses
in the reported speech:
Tense
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
present
continuous
I am living in
London
past simple
I bought a car
past
continuous
present
perfect
past perfect*
I had taken English She said she had taken English lessons
lessons before
before.
will
would*
can
could*
shall
should*
I should call my
mother
might*
must
"I must study at the She said she must study at the weekend OR
weekend"
She said she had to study at the weekend
* doesnt change
Occasionally, we dont need to change the present tense into the past if the
information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are
general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):
PASSIVE VOICE
Read the following story!
Explanations:
Exercise
Direct speech
Indirect speech
very tired.
an accident.
home at
at the customs.