Advanced rules for the Indirect Speech
Changes of Tense in the reported speech
If the verb is constructed in one of the past tenses, one has to be careful about the changes of tense in the construction of indirect sentences in the English grammar: I asked, Joe said, We wanted to know, They thought.
Have a detailed look at the following scheme:
| direct speech | indirect speech |
| present tense | past tense |
| present perfect tense | past perfect tense |
| past tense | past perfect tense |
| future with will | conditional present ("would") |
Grammar - Examples for the change of tenses in the indirect speech:
| Maria said, | Maria said (that) ... |
| "I like the new sports teacher." | ... she liked the new sports teacher. |
| "They have done a good job." | ... they had done a good job. |
| "It took seven month to build it." | ... it had taken seven month to build it. |
| "My brother will like it, too." | ... her brother would like it, too. |
Alteration of pronouns
In some situations the personal and possessive pronouns can change:
- The girls said to uncle Tom, "We know that you are not living here."
- The girls told uncle Tom (that) they knew (that) he wasn't living here.
- Tony said to me, "I like rock climbing."
- Tony told me (that) he liked rock climbing.
Also, notice that in indirect speech people often leave out the conjunction “that”.
"Reporting Verb" in Present Tense of in Present Perfect Tense
Notice this important English grammar rule:
If the reporting verb is constructed in present tense or present perfect tense (He says ...; They have informed us ...), there is no change of tenses in the formation of an indirect structure.
While the personal and possessive pronouns change, adverbs of place and time remain unchanged in these situations.
| direct speech | indirect speech |
|---|---|
| Tom says/has said, | Tom says/has said that... |
| "I like the new school." | ...Mary likes the new school. |
| "It took two years to complete construction." | ... it took two years to complete construction. |
| "My parents will like the hotel, too." | ... his parents will like the hotel, too. |
| "They have done a good job painting this wall." | ... they have done a good job painting this wall. |
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