| DIRECT QUOTE |
INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH |
|
SIMPLE PRESENT changes
to SIMPLE PAST |
"I work at Toyota."
"I don't work at Honda."
"I am a manager."
"I'm not a salesman." |
He said he worked at Toyota.
He said he didn't work at Honda.
He said he was a manager.
He said he wasn't a salesman. |
|
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE changes
to PAST PROGRESSIVE |
"I'm cleaning my house today."
"I'm not going to work today."
"Mary is dancing in the show."
"She isn't singing in the show." |
He said he was cleaning his house
today.
He said he wasn't going to work today.
Lee said that Mary was dancing in
the show.
He said she wasn't singing in the
show. |
|
PRESENT PERFECT changes
to PAST PERFECT |
"I've already seen that movie."
"I haven't heard that song before."
"Gary has called three times."
"He hasn't left any messages though." |
She said she had already seen
that movie.
She said she hadn't heard that song
before.
Jack said Gary had called three times.
He said Gary hadn't left any messages
though. |
|
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
changes to PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE |
"Jeff has been exercising."
"He hasn't been studying."
"Celine and Lee have been working."
"They haven't been sleeping." |
She said Jeff had been exercising.
She said he hadn't been studying.
Ling said they had been working.
She said they hadn't been sleeping. |
|
SIMPLE PAST changes
to PAST PERFECT |
"I saw my friend."
"I didn't see Monika."
"I was late."
"I wasn't on time." |
She said she had seen his friend.
She said she hadn't seen Monika.
He said he had been late.
He said he hadn't been on time. |
-MODALS-
PRESENT MODALS change to PAST
MODALS |
"I will wash the dishes."
"I won't go." |
She said she would wash the dishes.
He said he wouldn't go. |
"I can dance."
"I can't swim." |
He said he could dance.
He said he couldn't swim. |
"There may be a problem."
"There may not be any milk left."
(No contraction) |
She said there might be a problem.
She said there might not be any milk
left.
(No contraction) |
|
HAVE TO / HAS TO and MUST
change to HAD TO |
"I have to clean my room."
"I don't have to clean the kitchen." |
He said he had to clean his room.
He said he didn't have to clean the
kitchen. |
"Sara has to work today."
"She doesn't have to go to class." |
Peter said Sara had to work today.
He said she didn't have to go to
class. |
"I must go to the store."
(No negative form possible) |
She said she had to go to the store.
(No negative form possible) |
THESE MODALS DO NOT CHANGE:
would, could, might, ought
to, should |
| "I would like a sandwich." |
He said he would like a sandwich. |
| "I couldn't go to the party." |
She said she couldn't go to the party. |
| "It might rain today." |
The weatherman said it might rain
today. |
| "You really ought to do your homework." |
The teacher said I really ought to
do my homework. |
| "You should be nicer to your sister." |
My mom said I should be nicer to
my sister. |
