Grammar. Reported speech: statements
▪ present simple ▪ past simple
“I have many friends. “ She said she had many friends.
▪ “ I don’t search on the internet” She said she didn’t search on the internet.
▪ present continuous ▪ past continuous
“ I’m having a good time now.” She said she was having a good time then.
“ I’m not wearing a shirt now”. She said she wasn’t wearing a shirt then.
▪ present perfect ▪ past perfect
“ I have met many wonderful people” She said she had met many wonderful people
“ I haven’t forgot your name” She said she hadn’t forgot his/her name.
▪ past simple ▪ past perfect
“ I travelled around the world last year” She said she had travelled the world the previous year.
“ I didn’t know you worked here” She said she hadn’t known she had worked there.
▪ will ▪ would
“ I will throw the rubbish tomorrow.” She said she would throw the rubbish the next day.
These modal verbs also change
▪ can ▪ could
“I can help you with that”. She said she could help me with that.
▪ may ▪ might
“ I may meet John at the party.” She said she might meet John at the party.
▪ must ▪ had to
I must be more sincere. She said she had to be more sincere.
The following modal verbs do not change in the reported speech: could, would, should, might,
ought to. E.g. You should ask her out. He said I should ask her out.
We also change some time, place expressions and pronouns if the context changes
now then
at the moment at that moment
today, this week/month that day, that week/month
tomorrow, next week/month the next day /the following day/week/month
yesterday, last week/month the day before/the previous day/week
here there
you he/she/they
your his/her/ their
this that
