INDIRECT SPEECH

INDIRECT SPEECH

We often report what another person said but we dont use exactly the same words.

If the reporting verb is in past (He said. He told me) The verb in reported speech usually changes. It goes back one tense into the past.

Direct Speech

Reported Speech

Direct Speech

Reported Speech

Present Simple

Past simple

Past Perfect

Past perfect

It is a good car

He said it was a good car.

I had been seen for 3 months

He said he had been sick

I study English

He said he studied English

for 3 monthsPresent Continuous

Past continuous

Future: will / shall

Would / should

I am watching TV

He said he was watching TV

I will meet you tonight

She said She would meet me this

She is writing a letter

He said she was writing a letter

nightPast Simple

Past perfect

Future: going to

Was / were going to

I bought some milk

He said He had bought some milk

You are going to be happy

He said I was going to be happy

We didnt eat seafood

They said they hadnt eaten seafood

Past continuous

Past perfect continuous

Modal Auxiliary Can

Modal auxiliary Could

I was drinking milk

She said she had been drinking milk

You can ring me if you want

He said I could ring him if I wantedPresent perfect

Past perfect

Modal auxiliary May

Modal auxiliary Might

I have worked a lot this week

He said he Had worked a lot that week.I may not be at home

He said he might not be at home.

* Note that the modal auxiliaries would, could, should, might and ought do dont change in reported speech.Note also these changes

This

that

Yesterday

the day before

Today

that day

Tomorrow

the following dayLast week

the week before

I.- Change the following sentences to reported speech.

Raul: I dont like to work so hard

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Laura: Im going to buy my groceries at Soriana________________________________________________________________________________Omar: Ive taken it to France a couple of times________________________________________________________________________________Sue: my house was painted last year

________________________________________________________________________________ Ivan: My name is Ivan

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