Change of Tenses in Indirect Speech
A change of time may mean a change of tense. So after past reporting verbs, the verbs of original speech are usually made more past.
Aย simple present tenseย in the direct speech becomesย simple pastย in the reported speech.
- Direct speech: James said, โI am ready.โ
- Indirect speech: James said that he was ready.
Aย present continuous tenseย in the direct speech becomes past continuousย in the indirect speech.
- Direct speech: James said, โI am going.โ
- Indirect speech: James said that he was going.
Aย present perfect tenseย in the direct speech becomesย past perfectย in the indirect speech.
- Direct speech: James said, โI have finished.โ
- Indirect speech: James said that he had finished.
Aย simple past tenseย in the direct speech sometimes becomesย past perfectย in the indirect speech.
- Direct speech: James said, โJohn phoned.โ
- Indirect speech: James said that John had phoned.
Willย in the direct speech becomesย wouldย in the indirect speech;ย canย becomesย could;ย shallย becomesย should;ย mayย becomesย might;ย mustย andย oughtย remain the same.
- Direct speech: John asked Mary, โWillย you marry me?โ
- Indirect speech: John asked Mary if sheย wouldย marry him.
- Direct speech: James said, โIย canโtย swim.โ
- Indirect speech: James said that heย couldnโtย swim.