Reported Speech

Reported Speech is used to communicate what someone else said, but without using the
exact words.

The rules of reported speech :

1. Verb tense changes in indirect speech
2. No change in verb tenses in indirect speech
3. Changes in time and place in reported speech
4. Introductory verbs
5. Pronouns in indirect speech
6. Reported questions
7. Reported commands and requests

PATTERN
Tense : Present Simple
Direct Speech : I like ice cream
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she liked ice cream

Tense : Present Continuous

Direct Speech : I am living in London
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she was living in London

Tense : Past Simple

Direct Speech : I bought a car
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she had bought a car OR she said ( that ) she bought a
car

Tense : Past Continuous

Direct Speech : I was walking along the street
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she had been walking along the street

Tense : Present Perfect

Direct Speech : I haven't seen Julie
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she hadn't seen Julie

Tense : Past Perfect

Direct Speech : I had taken English lessons before
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she had taken English lessons before

Tense : Will
Direct Speech : I'll see you later
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she would see me later

Tense : Would
Direct Speech : I would help, but.. "
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she would help but…
Tense : Can
Direct Speech : I can speak perfect English
Reported Speeh : She said ( that ) she could speak perfect English

Tense : Could
Direct Speech : I could swim when I was four
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she could swim when she was four

Tense : Shall
Direct Speech : I shall come later
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she would come later

Tense : Should
Direct Speech : I should call my mother
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she should call her mother

Tense : Must
Direct Speech : I must study at the weekend
Reported Speech : She said ( that ) she must study at the weekend OR she said she had to
study at the weekend