Noun Clauses/Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Tense Harmony or Sequencing

(except for a few exceptions*, the following changes are made when reporting quoted speech)

Quoted speech
present tense verb present continuous present perfect simple past past perfect simple future (will) future (be going to) modals: can may (possibility) may (permission) will might must have to should ought to shall shall could might could would might had to had to would

Later reporting
simple past past continuous

past perfect

was/were going to

should ought to would (future) should (ask for advice)

imperative yes/no question

infinitive if + noun clause

Note:

If the reporting verb (the main verb of the sentences, e.g., said, is in the past, the verb in the noun clause will usually be in a past form. If the reporting verb is simple present, present perfect, or future, the noun clause verb is not changed.
She says she washes her hair every day. She has said that she washes her hair every day. She will say that she washes her hair every day.

She says, "I wash my hair every day." She has said, "I wash my hair every day." She will say, "I wash my hair every day."

*Exceptions:

If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth, the present tense is (can be) retained. She said that the moon causes the tides. If the speaker reports something immediately or soon after it was said, the noun clause verb often remains as spoken. A: What did the conductor say? B: He said that the next stop is Northgate. If will is the modal in the reported utterance and expresses future time, and if the situation described in the quote still holds true at the time of the indirect report, the will may not be changed to would even though the reporting verb is in the past tense: Mr. Arden said that a volcanic eruption will occur next year.

Reported Speech

Changes in time and place words

now today tomorrow yesterday next month next year last month last year in two days weeks) five days ago five weeks ago here

then, at that time that day the following day, the next day, a day later the previous day, the day before the following month, the next month, a month later the following year, the next, year, a year later the month before, the previous month, the preceding month the year before, the previous year, the preceding year two days from then, two weeks from then five days before, five days earlier five weeks before, five weeks earlier there