What is the sequence of tenses in reported speech?

Reported Speech Questions



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What is the sequence of tenses in reported speech?

The sequence of tenses in reported speech is as follows:

1. Present simple tense in direct speech changes to past simple tense in reported speech.
Example:
"I like ice cream." (direct speech) changes to "She said she liked ice cream." (reported speech)

2. Present continuous tense in direct speech changes to past continuous tense in reported speech.
Example:
"I am studying for my exam." (direct speech) changes to "He said he was studying for his exam." (reported speech)

3. Present perfect tense in direct speech changes to past perfect tense in reported speech.
Example:
"I have finished my work." (direct speech) changes to "She said she had finished her work." (reported speech)

4. Past simple tense in direct speech changes to past perfect tense in reported speech.
Example:
"I went to the park." (direct speech) changes to "He said he had gone to the park." (reported speech)

5. Will or shall in direct speech changes to would or should in reported speech.
Example:
"I will help you." (direct speech) changes to "She said she would help me." (reported speech)

6. Can or could in direct speech changes to could or might in reported speech.
Example:
"I can swim." (direct speech) changes to "He said he could swim." (reported speech)

7. May or might in direct speech changes to might or might have in reported speech.
Example:
"I may go to the party." (direct speech) changes to "She said she might go to the party." (reported speech)