REPORTED STATEMENTS If the reporting verb is in the Simple Present, Present Perfect or Future, there is no change of tense in the words reported. Direct Speech Reported Speech "I can explain the fact.” He says he can explain the fact. However, when the reporting verb is in the Simple Past or Past Perfect a number of changes typically occur. CHANGE OF THE VERB TENSES Direct Speech Reported Speech SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE PAST “ I like oranges. He said (that) he liked oranges. PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS “She is eating a cake.” He said she was eating a cake. PRESENT PERFECT/SIMPLE PAST PAST PERFECT “She has worked hard.” . He said she had worked hard. “She went to London.” He said she had gone to London PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS /PAST PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONTINUOUS He said he had been writing. “ I have been writing.” He said he had been joking. “ I was joking.” FUTURE – SHALL / WILL CONDITIONAL – SHOULD / WOULD “ We will be late.” He said he would be late. FUTURE CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS “ I will be using the car.” He said he would be using the car. CAN / MAY / MUST COULD / MIGHT / HAD TO “ I can swim.” She said she could swim. “ It may rain.” He said it might rain. “ I must go.” She said she had to go. CHANGE OF CHANGE OF TIME EXPRESSION PRONOUNS / DETERMINERS Direct Speech Reported Speech Today That day/the same day Direct Reported Yesterday The day before/the previous day Speech Speech The day before Two days before I / You He / She yesterday We They Tomorrow The following day/the next day/the day after Ago Before My / your His / Her / Our Now Then/at that time Our Their Last week/year… The previous week / The week/year before This / These That / Those Next week/month… The following week/month REPORTED QUESTIONS The same changes of reported statements; The interrogative form changes to the affirmative;
REPORTED STATEMENTS If the reporting verb is in the Simple Present, Present Perfect or Future, there is no change of tense in the words reported. Direct Speech Reported Speech "I can explain the fact.” He says he can explain the fact. However, when the reporting verb is in the Simple Past or Past Perfect a number of changes typically occur. CHANGE OF THE VERB TENSES Direct Speech Reported Speech SIMPLE PRESENT “ I like oranges. SIMPLE PAST He said (that) he liked oranges. PRESENT CONTINUOUS “She is eating a cake.” PAST CONTINUOUS He said she was eating a cake. PRESENT PERFECT/SIMPLE PAST “She has worked hard.” “She went to London.” PAST PERFECT . He said she had worked hard. He said she had gone to London PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS /PAST CONTINUOUS “ I have been writing.” “ I was joking.” PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS He said he had been writing. He said he had been joking. FUTURE – SHALL / WILL “ We will be late.” CONDITIONAL – SHOULD / WOULD He said he would be late. FUTURE CONTINUOUS “ I will be using the car.” CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS He said he would be using the car. CAN / MAY / MUST “ I can swim.” “ It may rain.” “ I must go.” COULD / MIGHT / HAD TO She said she could swim. He said it might rain. She said she had to go. CHANGE OF TIME EXPRESSION Direct Speech Reported Speech Today That day/the same day Yesterday The day before/the previous day The day before yesterday Two days before Tomorrow The following day/the next day/the day after Ago Before Now Then/at that time Last week/year… The previous week / The week/year before Next week/month… The following week/month CHANGE OF PRONOUNS / DETERMINERS Direct Speech Reported Speech I / You He / She We They My / your His / Her / Our Our Their This / These That / Those REPORTED QUESTIONS The same changes of reported statements; The interrogative form changes to the affirmative;
grammar-theory-1st-bach.docx