Reported Speech Questions Medium
When converting from direct to indirect speech, there are several changes in tenses that occur. These changes depend on the tense of the verb in the original direct speech and the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. Here are the general rules for changing tenses:
1. Present Simple tense:
- If the reporting verb is in the present tense, there is no change in the tense of the verb in the reported speech.
- Example: Direct speech - "I love ice cream." Indirect speech - She says that she loves ice cream.
2. Present Continuous tense:
- If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the present continuous tense in the direct speech changes to the past continuous tense in the indirect speech.
- Example: Direct speech - "I am studying for my exam." Indirect speech - He says that he was studying for his exam.
3. Present Perfect tense:
- If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the present perfect tense in the direct speech changes to the past perfect tense in the indirect speech.
- Example: Direct speech - "They have already left." Indirect speech - She says that they had already left.
4. Past Simple tense:
- If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the past simple tense in the direct speech changes to the past perfect tense in the indirect speech.
- Example: Direct speech - "I went to the park." Indirect speech - He said that he had gone to the park.
5. Past Continuous tense:
- If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the past continuous tense in the direct speech changes to the past perfect continuous tense in the indirect speech.
- Example: Direct speech - "She was cooking dinner." Indirect speech - They said that she had been cooking dinner.
6. Past Perfect tense:
- If the reporting verb is in the past tense, there is no change in the tense of the verb in the reported speech.
- Example: Direct speech - "He had already finished his work." Indirect speech - She said that he had already finished his work.
7. Future tenses:
- If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the future tense in the direct speech changes to the conditional tense in the indirect speech.
- Example: Direct speech - "I will call you tomorrow." Indirect speech - He says that he would call me the next day.
These are the general rules for changing tenses when converting from direct to indirect speech. However, it is important to note that there may be exceptions and variations depending on the specific context and reporting verb used.