General

CHANGE Direct speech:

rule:
OF WH-questions: He says: “I don’t understand this
question”.
WH-word stays as conjunction
YES-NO-questions:
Reported speech:
He says that he doesn’t understand
We introduce conjunction if or
this question.
whether
 REPORTED
SPEECH

Otherwise use say:

1. Sonia said that you were ill. (Not
“Sonia told that...”)
2. What did you say? CHANGE
But you can “say something to somebody”: CHANGE OF REPORTED SPEECH
DIRECT SPEECH
1. Ann said goodbye to me and left.
(Not “Ann said me goodbye.”) OF
Direct speech:
Present  Past
2. What did you say to the police?
Present continuous  Past continuous
He said: “Go home.”
Present perfect  Past perfect
Reported speech:
Past  Past perfect
He told me to go home. (Infinitive)
Future  Past future