Reported speech - English Grammar
Statements
1) If the sentence starts in the present, there is no backshift of tenses in Reported speech.
Example: Susan: "I work in an office." Susan says that she works in an office.
2) If the sentence starts in the past, 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
from
to
Simple Present
Simple Past
Simple Past
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Past Perfect
will
would
Progressive forms
am/are/is
was/were
was/were
has been
had been
had been
Backshift of tenses
from
to
Peter: "I work in the garden."
Peter said that he worked in the garden.
Peter: "I worked in the garden."
Peter: "I have worked in the garden."
Peter said that he had worked in the garden.
Peter: "I had 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 may work in the garden."
Peter said that he might work in the garden.
Peter: "I would work in the garden."
(could, might, should, ought to)
Peter said that he would work in the garden.
(could, might, should, ought to)
Progressive forms
Peter: "I'm working in the garden."
Peter said that he was working in the garden.
Peter: "I was working in the garden."
Peter: "I have been working in the garden."
Peter: "I had been working in the garden."
Peter said that he had been working in the garden.
If the sentence contains an expression of time, you must change it as well.
Peter: "I worked in the garden yesterday."
Peter said that he had worked in the garden the day before.
Shifting of expressions of time
this (evening) that (evening)
today/this
day
that day
these (days)
those (days)
now
then
(a week) ago
(a week) before
last weekend
the weekend before / the previous
weekend
here
there
next (week)
the following (week)
tomorrow
the next/following day
Note:
In some cases the backshift of tenses is not necessary, e.g. when statements are still true.
John: "My brother is at Leipzig university."
John said that his brother was at Leipzig university. or
John said that his brother is at Leipzig university.
or
Mandy: "The sun rises in the East."
Mandy said that the sun rose in the East. or
Mandy said that the sun rises in the East.
Word order
Direct speech
"I play football"
"I am playing football"
"I have played football"
"I played football"
"I was playing football"
"I had played football"
"I had been playing football"
"I will play football"
"I can play football"
Reported speech
He said (that) he played football
He said (that) he was playing football
He said (that) he had played football
He said (that) he had played football
He said (that) he had been playing football
He said (that) he had played football
He said (that) he had been playing football
He said (that) he would play football
He said (that) he could play football
1. In reported speech, we usually report what was said at a different time, and so we change the tense to
reflect the time which we are reporting:
DIRECT SPEECH: "I'm not playing football."
REPORTED LATER: He said that he wasn't playing football.
2. Sometimes we need to change the pronoun.
DIRECT SPEECH: Jim: "I don't like living here." (Jim is referring to himself)
REPORTED SPEECH: Jim said (that) he didn't like living here. (the pronoun he refers to Jim)
3. We may also need to change other words about place and time.
DIRECT SPEECH: "I like this car."
REPORTED SPEECH: He said (that) he liked the car.
DIRECT SPEECH: "I went to Tokyo last week."
REPORTED SPEECH: She said (that) she'd been to Tokyo the week before.
Functions and examples
We use reported speech to tell someone what another person said.
Jim says to you...
"I don't feel well."
"I can't drive."
"My parents have gone on holiday."
"I'm going out now so you will have to wait until I get back."
You tell your friend what Jim said...
Jim said (that) he didn't feel well.
He said (that) he couldn't drive.
He said (that) his parents had gone on holiday.
He said (that) he was going out now so I would have to wait until he got back.
Important points
1. If we report something which is still true, it is not necessary to change the verb.
DIRECT SPEECH: "My car is bigger than yours."
REPORTED SPEECH: He said his car is / was bigger than mine.
2. When we are reporting past tenses, and we see the events from the same viewpoint as the original
speaker, it is not necessary to change the tense.
DIRECT SPEECH: "The earthquake happened at half past seven."
REPORTED SPEECH: The radio said that the earthquake happened at half past seven.
3. Modal verbs could, might, would, should, ought, had better usually do not change in reported speech.
DIRECT SPEECH: "I should go to the dentist."
REPORTED SPEECH: He said that he should go to the dentist.