REPORTED SPEECH

Tense Changes When Using Reported Speech

Normally, the tense in reported speech is one tense back in time from the tense in direct speech:
She said, "I am tired." She said that she was tired.
The changes are shown below:
Simple present Simple past
"I always drink coffee", she said She said that she always drank coffee.

Present continuous Past continuous

"I am reading a book", he explained. He explained that he was reading a book

Simple past Past perfect

"Bill arrived on Saturday", he said. He said that Bill had arrived on Saturday

Present perfect Past perfect

"I have been to Spain", he told me. He told me that he had been to Spain

Past perfect Past perfect

"I had just turned out the light," he He explained that he had just turned out
explained. the light.

Present perfect continuous Past perfect continuous

They complained, "We have been waiting They complained that they had been
for hours". waiting for hours.

Past continuous Past perfect continuous

"We were living in Paris", they told me. They told me that they had been living in
Paris.

Future Present conditional

"I will be in Geneva on Monday", he said He said that he would be in Geneva on
Monday.

Future continuous Conditional continuous

She said, "I'll be using the car next She said that she would be using the car
Friday". next Friday.

NOTE:
1. You do not need to change the tense if the reporting verb is in the present, or if the original
statement was about something that is still true, e.g.
• He says he has missed the train but he'll catch the next one.
• We explained that it is very difficult to find our house.
2. These modal verbs do not change in reported speech:
might, could, would, should, ought to, e.g.
• We explained that it could be difficult to find our house.
• She said that she might bring a friend to the party.

GET / HAVE SOMETHING DONE

GET / HAVE SOMETHING DONE (Passive Voice)
This construction is passive in meaning. It may describe situations where we want someone else to
do something for us.

Examples
• I must get / have my hair cut.
• When are you going to get that window mended?
• We're having the house painted.
If the verb refers to something negative or unwanted, it has the same meaning as a passive sentence:
• Jim had his car stolen last night. (= Jim's car was stolen)
• They had their roof blown off in the storm. (= Their roof was blown off in the storm)
The construction can refer to the completion of an activity, especially if a time expression is used:
• We'll get the work done as soon as possible.
• I'll get those letters typed before lunchtime.
In all these sentences, we are more interested in the result of the activity than in the person or object
that performs the activity.

'X' NEEDS DOING

In the same way, this construction has a passive meaning. The important thing in our minds is the
person or thing that will experience the action, e.g.
• The ceiling needs painting (= the ceiling needs to be painted)
• My hair needs cutting (= my hair needs to be cut)