Reported speech - English Grammar
Statements
1) If the introductory sentence starts in the present (Susan says), there is no backshift of tenses in
Reported speech.
Example:
Direct speech: Susan: "I work in an office."
Reported speech: Susan says that she works in an office.
2) If the introductory sentence starts in the past (Susan said), there is often backshift of tenses in Reported
speech. (see: Note)
Example:
Susan: "I work in an office."
Susan said that she worked in an office.
Backshift of tenses
DIRECT SPEECH
INDIRECT SPEECH
Simple Present
Simple Past
will
Would
Present Continuous
Past Continuous
Can
Could
am/are/is goin to
was/were going to
Backshift of tenses
from
to
Peter: "I work in the garden."
Peter said that he worked in the garden.
Peter: "I will work in the garden."
Peter said that he would work in the garden.
Peter: "I can work in the garden."
Peter said that he could work in the garden.
Peter: "I'm working in the garden."
Peter said that he was working in the garden.
Peter: “I´m going to work in the garden.”
Peter said that he was going to work in the garden
If the sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it as well.
Shifting of expressions of time
this (evening)
that (evening)
today/this day
that day
these (days)
those (days)
now
then
here
there
at this moment
at that moment
tonight
that night
Also note that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect question

use the interrogative if
Type
with interrogative pronouns
with YES/NO questions
Example
direct speech
“Why don’t you speak English?”
reported speech
He asked me why I didn’t speak English.
direct speech
“Do you speak English?”
reported speech
He asked me if I spoke English.
Things are slightly more complicated with imperatives.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
positive imperative
Shut up!
He told me to shut up.
negative imperative
Don't do that again!
He told me not to do it again.
imperatives as requests
Please give me some money.
He asked me to give him some money.