Direct And Indirect Speech Questions Medium
The rules for changing time expressions in indirect speech are as follows:
1. If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the time expressions usually remain unchanged.
Example: She said, "I am going to the party tonight." (Direct speech)
She says that she is going to the party tonight. (Indirect speech)
2. If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the time expressions are generally shifted back in time.
Example: He said, "I will meet her tomorrow." (Direct speech)
He said that he would meet her the next day. (Indirect speech)
3. If the time expression refers to a specific point in time, it is usually changed to a corresponding expression in the past.
Example: They said, "We saw him yesterday." (Direct speech)
They said that they had seen him the day before. (Indirect speech)
4. If the time expression refers to a period of time, it is usually changed to a corresponding expression in the past.
Example: She said, "I have been working here for two years." (Direct speech)
She said that she had been working there for two years. (Indirect speech)
5. If the time expression is a general statement or a timeless fact, it remains unchanged.
Example: He said, "The sun rises in the east." (Direct speech)
He said that the sun rises in the east. (Indirect speech)
It is important to note that these rules may vary depending on the context and the specific reporting verb used.