Reported Speech
Reported Speech
Table for change in tense of reported speech (Statements) The tense changes into the corresponding past.
Direct
Indirect/ Reported
Simple Present tense
Simple Past Tense
Present Continuous tense
Past Continuous tense
Present Perfect tense
Past Perfect tense
Present Perfect Continuous tense
Past Perfect Continuous tense
Simple Past tense
Past Perfect
Past Continuous tense
Past Perfect Continuous tense
Past Perfect
Past Perfect
Simple Future (will) would Future continuous (will be completing) would be completing
Future Perfect (will have completed)
Would have completed Note: The tense of reported speech may not change if reported speech is a universal truth though its reporting verb belongs to past tense.
Other Changes
DIRECT
REPORTED
here there this that these those now then today that day yesterday the previous day tomorrow the next day
Examples.
DIRECT SPEECH
INDIRECT SPEECH PRESENT TENSE PRESENT SIMPLE changes into PAST SIMPLE
He said, “I write a letter”
He said, “he does not like computer”
He said that he wrote a letter.
He said that he did not like computer.
PRESENT PERFECT changes into PAST PERFECT
She said, “he has finished his work.”
He said, “I have started a job.”
She said that he had finished his work.
He said that he had started a job.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
He said, “I have been studying since 3 O’clock.”
She said, “It has been raining for three days.”
He said that he had been studying since 3 O’clock.
She said that it had been raining for three days.
PAST TENSE PAST SIMPLE changes into PAST PERFECT
He said to me, “you answered correctly.”
John said, “they went to cinema.”
He said to me that I had answered correctly.
John said that they had gone to cinema.
PAST CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
They said, “we were enjoying the weather.”
He said to me, “ I was waiting for you.”
They said that they had
Table for change in tense of reported speech (Statements) The tense changes into the corresponding past.
Direct
Indirect/ Reported
Simple Present tense
Simple Past Tense
Present Continuous tense
Past Continuous tense
Present Perfect tense
Past Perfect tense
Present Perfect Continuous tense
Past Perfect Continuous tense
Simple Past tense
Past Perfect
Past Continuous tense
Past Perfect Continuous tense
Past Perfect
Past Perfect
Simple Future (will) would Future continuous (will be completing) would be completing
Future Perfect (will have completed)
Would have completed Note: The tense of reported speech may not change if reported speech is a universal truth though its reporting verb belongs to past tense.
Other Changes
DIRECT
REPORTED
here there this that these those now then today that day yesterday the previous day tomorrow the next day
Examples.
DIRECT SPEECH
INDIRECT SPEECH PRESENT TENSE PRESENT SIMPLE changes into PAST SIMPLE
He said, “I write a letter”
He said, “he does not like computer”
He said that he wrote a letter.
He said that he did not like computer.
PRESENT PERFECT changes into PAST PERFECT
She said, “he has finished his work.”
He said, “I have started a job.”
She said that he had finished his work.
He said that he had started a job.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
He said, “I have been studying since 3 O’clock.”
She said, “It has been raining for three days.”
He said that he had been studying since 3 O’clock.
She said that it had been raining for three days.
PAST TENSE PAST SIMPLE changes into PAST PERFECT
He said to me, “you answered correctly.”
John said, “they went to cinema.”
He said to me that I had answered correctly.
John said that they had gone to cinema.
PAST CONTINUOUS changes into PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
They said, “we were enjoying the weather.”
He said to me, “ I was waiting for you.”
They said that they had