OBSERVATIONS: a) Some auxiliary verbs change in reported speech: MAY = MIGHT MUST = HAD TO
WILL = WOULD
CAN = COULD
b) Others stay the same in both direct and indirect speech:
WOULD / SHOULD / COULD / MIGHT
c) Pronouns and adverbs also change in reported speech:
I = he / she This = that | Today = that day |
d) When the affirmation made in direct speech is still valid at the moment it is reported, the verb tense doesn’t need to be changed.
- “Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide”, the doctor said.
- The doctor said that cigarette smoke contains (or contained) carbon monoxide.
VERB TENSES | REPORTED SPEECH |
1PRESENT | 1- PAST |
2PAST | 2- PAST / PAST PERFECT (HAD + P.P.) |
3PRESENT PERFECT (HAVE / HAS + P.P.) | 3- PAST PERFECT (HAD + P.P.) |
4FUTURE (WILL) | 4- CONDITIONAL (WOULD) |
5CAN | 5- COULD |
1Present | 1- Past |
I’m happy. | She said she was happy. |
I work on Saturdays. | She said she worked on Saturdays. |
Negative forms | |
I don’t like eggs. | She said she didn’t like eggs. |
- Past | 2- Past/Past Perfect |
I was happy. | She said she was happy. |
I worked last Saturday. | She said she had worked last Saturday. |
3- Present Perfect | 3- Past Perfect |
I have met Regina Duarte. | She said she had met Regina Duarte. |
4- Future (will) | 4- Conditional (would) |
I will start working on Monday. | She said she would start working on Monday. |
5Can | 5- Could |
I can dance the tango very well. | She said she could dance the tango very well. |
6- Imperative Sentences – Affirmative Forms | 6- Imperative (to) |
Call me tomorrow. | She said to call her the next day. |
7- Imperative Sentences – Negative Forms | 7- Not to |
Don’t smoke. | She said/asked/requested not to smoke. |
Don’t open the door. | She said/asked/requested not to open the door. |