REPORTE D SPEECH [TENSE AND TIME EXPRESSIO NS CHANGE S].
Tense in direct speech. Example of direct speech. Tense change in reported speech. Example of reported speech.
Present simple He wears a skirt. Past simple He said (that) she wore a skirt.
Present continuous She is listening to music. Past continuous She said (that) she was listening to music.
Past simple He drank two tequilas. Past perfect simple He said (that) he had drunk two tequilas.
Past continuous She was living in London. Past perfect continuous She said (that) she had been living in London.
Present perfect simple He has eaten an apple. Past perfect simple He said (that) had eaten an apple.
Present perfect continuous She has been doing karate since 2009. Past perfect continuous She said (that) she had been doing karate since…
Past perfect simple He had taken the bus after the robbery. Past perfect simple He said (that) he had taken the bus after the robbery.
Past perfect continuous She had been sleeping since 11 o’clock. Past perfect continuous She said (that) she had been sleeping since…
Will He will see you later Would He said (that) he would see me later.
Would She would help to solve the problem. Would She said (that) she would help to solve the problem.
Can He can speak english perfectly. Could He said (that) he could speak english perfectly.
Could She could sing when she was 20. Could She said (that) she could sing when she was 20.
Should She should call her mother. Should She said (that) she should call her mother.
Might She might be late. Might She said (that) she might be late.
Must He must do his exercises. Must He said (that) he must be late.
Have (present) to She has to take care of her sister. Had (past) to She said (that) she had to take care of her sister.
When we have a sentence with a bit of information or an order we use the verb “tell” in its past form “told”.
When we have a sentence with a lot of information we use the verb “say” in its past form “said”.
When we have a question or a request we use the verb “ask” in its past form “asked”.
Other verbs to express: order, suggest, offer, announce, apologize...