REPORTED (INDIRECT) SPEECH

We can use Direct Speech or Indirect Speech when we want to say or write what someone else has
said.
- In Direct Speech we give the exact words someone has said: “I am the best.”
- In Indirect Speech we express what someone said in the past: He said he was the best.
Direct speech Indirect speech
Present Simple Past Simple
I like chocolate. He said he liked chocolate.
He told me that he liked chocolate.
Present Continuous Past Continuous
Present Perfect Past Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Past Simple Past Perfect
Past Continuous Past Continuous
Past Perfect Past Perfect
Future Simple Conditional (present): would + infinitive
Tonight That night
Today That day
Now Then
Yesterday The day before
Tomorrow The following day
This... That...
Last... The previous...
Next... The next...
A... ago The... before

! When the Direct Speech statement expresses a general truth, Conditional Type 2 or 3 or a wish,
there are no changes in the Indirect speech.
Ex. The Earth moves round the Sun. > He said the Earth moves round the Sun.
 If you worked harder you would get better marks. > He said if I worked harder I would get
better marks.
If he had phoned he would have known the news. > She said if he had he would have known
the news.
I wish I was a queen. > She said she wished she was a queen.