REPORTED SPEECH TENSE CHANGE LIST

DIRECT QUOTE

INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH

SIMPLE PRESENT changes to SIMPLE PAST

"I work at Toyota."

"I'm not a salesman."

He said he worked at Toyota.

He said he wasn't a salesman.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE changes to PAST PROGRESSIVE

"I'm cleaning my house today."

"She isn't singing in the show."

He said he was cleaning his house today.

He said she wasn't singing in the show.
PRESENT PERFECT changes to PAST PERFECT

"I've already seen that movie."

"He hasn't left any messages though."

She said she had already seen that movie.

He said Gary hadn't left any messages though.

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE changes to PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

"Jeff has been exercising."
"They haven't been sleeping."

She said Jeff had been exercising.

She said they hadn't been sleeping.
SIMPLE PAST changes to PAST PERFECT

"I saw my friend."

"I wasn't on time."

She said she had seen his friend.

He said he hadn't been on time.
-MODALSPRESENT MODALS change to PAST MODALS

"I won't go."

He said he wouldn't go.

"I can't swim."

He said he couldn't swim.

"There may not be any milk left."

She said there might not be any milk left.

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.
MUST changes to HAD TO

"I must go to the store."

She said she must / had to go to the store.

THESE MODALS DO NOT CHANGE:
would, could, might, ought to, should

PERSONAL AND POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS

I, my, mine

he/ she/ you, his / her/ your, etc

ADVERBIAL BACKSHIFTING
here

there

this, these

that, those

here, there

there

now

then, at that moment

today

that day

tonight

that night

yesterday

the day before, the previous day

tomorrow

the following/ next day

this morning / afternoon / evening/ night

that morning / afternoon / evening/ night

next week/month/year

the following week/month/year

the day after tomorrow

in two days

the day before yesterday

two days before

last year, last month, last week

the year/month/week before OR the previous

three days, weeks, months ...years ago

three days, weeks, months, .....years before

on Monday

on Monday, 11th December