Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Note: If the reporting verb (the main verb of the sentences, e.g., said), is in the past, the verb in the noun clause will usually be in a past form. If the reporting verb is simple present, present perfect, or future, the noun clause verb is not changed. She says, "I wash my hair every day". She says she washes her hair every day. She has said, "I wash my hair every day". She has said that she washes her hair every day. She will say, "I wash my hair every day". She will say that she washes her hair every day. Exceptions: If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth, the present tense is (can be) retained. Ex: She said that the moon causes the tides If the speaker reports something immediately or soon after it was said, the noun clause verb often remains as spoken. Example: A: What did the conductor say? B: He said that the next stop is Northgate. If will is the modal in the reported utterance and expresses future time, and if the situation described in the quote still holds true at the time of the indirect report, the will may not be changed to would even though the reporting verb is in the past tense: Mr. Arden said that a volcanic eruption will occur next year.

Changes in time and place words

When using indirect or reported speech, the form changes. Usually indirect speech is introduced by the verb said, as in I said, Bill said, or they said. Using the verb say in this tense, indicates that something was said in the past. In these cases, the main verb in the reported sentence is put in the past. If the main verb is already in a past tense, then the tense changes to another past tense; it can almost be seen as moving even further into the past. Verb tense changes also characterize other situations using indirect speech. Note the changes shown in the chart and see the table below for examples. With indirect speech, the use of that is optional.

Changes in time Direct Speech Þ Indirect Speech simple present He said, “I go to school every day.” Þ simple past He said (that) he went to school every day. simple past He said, “I went to school every day.” Þ past perfect He said (that) he had gone to school every day. present perfect He said, “I have gone to school every day.” Þ past perfect He said (that) he had gone to school every day. present progressive He said, “I am going to school every day.” Þ past progressive He said (that) he was going to school every day. past progressive He said, “I was going to school every day.” Þ perfect progressive He said (that) he had been going to school every day, future (will) He said, “I will go to school every day.” Þ would + verb name He said (that) he would go to school every day. future (going to) He said, “I am going to school every day.” Þ present progressive He said (that) he is going to school every day.   past progressive He said (that) he was going to school every day Direct Speech Þ Indirect Speech auxiliary + verb name He said, “Do you go to school every day?” He said, “Where do you go to school?” Þ simple past He asked me if I went to school every day.* He asked me where I went to school. imperative He said, “Go to school every day.” Þ infinitive He said to go to school every day. *Note than when a Yes/No question is being asked in direct speech, then a construction with if or whether is used. If a WH question is being asked, then use the WH to introduce the clause. Also note that with indirect speech, these are examples of embedded questions. The situation changes if instead of the common said another part of the very to say is used. In that case the verb tenses usually remain the same. Some examples of this situation are given below. Direct Speech Þ Indirect Speech simple present + simple present He says, “I go to school every day.” Þ simple present + simple present He says (that) he goes to school every day. present perfect + simple present He has said, “I go to school every day.” Þ present perfect + simple present He has said (that) he goes to school every day. past progressive + simple past He was saying, “I went to school every day.” Þ past progressive + simple past He was saying (that) he went to school every day.   past progressive + past perfect He was saying (that) he had gone to school every day. future + simple present He will say, “I go to school every day.” Þ future + simple present He will say (that) he goes to school every day. Another situation is the one in which modal constructions are used. If the verb said is used, then the form of the modal, or another modal that has a past meaning is used. Direct Speech Þ Indirect Speech can He said, “I can go to school every day.” Þ could He said (that) he could go to school every day. may (possibility) He said, “I may go to school every day.” may (permission) Þ might He said (that) he might go to school every day. could might He said, “I might go to school every day.” Þ might He said (that) he might go to school every day. must He said, “I must go to school every day.” Þ had to He said (that) he had to go to school every day. have to He said, “I have to go to school every day.” Þ had to He said (that) he had to go to school every day. should He said, “I should go to school every day.” Þ should He said (that) he should go to school every day. ought to He said, “I ought to go to school every day.” Þ ought to He said (that) he ought to go to school every day. will Þ would shall Þ would (future) should (ask for advice) imperative Þ infinitive yes/no question Þ if + noun clause For other situations, try to extrapolate from the examples here.

Changes in place words DIRECT SPEECH: REPORTED SPEECH: now today tomorrow yesterday next month next year last month last year in two days / weeks five days ago five weeks ago here come this that these those I then, at that time that day the following day, the next day, a day later the previous day, the day before the following month, the next month, a month later the following year, the next, year, a year later the month before, the previous month, the preceding month the year before, the previous year, the preceding year two days from then, two weeks from then five days before, five days earlier five weeks before, five weeks earlier there go the or it the or it the the he, she Reported Speech is an important part of the grammar.

Some examples

DIRECT SPEECH: REPORTED SPEECH: Present simple: I'm a nurse, she said Present past: She said she was a nurse Present continuous: I'm not going, he said Past continuous: He said he wasn't going Past simple: Tony did it, she said Past Perfect: She said Tony had done it Present perfect: I haven't read it, she said Past perfect: She said she hadn't read it Past continuous: I was lying, he said Past perfect continuous: He said he had been lying Will: I will get it, she said Would: She said she would get it Can: I can speak french, he said Could: He said he could speak french May: I may be late, she said Might: She said she might be late Must: I must go, he said had to: he said he had to go