takes → took → had taken

is taking → was taking → had been taking

When reporting someone’s words we usually has/have taken → had taken →X
move one tense further into the past. will take → would take →X

today → that day tonight → that night

yesterday → the day before / the previous day now → then
tomorrow → the next day / the following day last week → the week before / the previous week

this→ that these → those here → there

Some changes depend on the context of the
sentence we are reporting. (*)
I→ he / she (*) we→ they (*) you→ me/us/her/him (*)

What did the couple say to each other over dinner yesterday?
Example: 1) She said (that) their daughter was pregnant.

1) “Our daughter is pregnant.” 2) “That doesn’t surprise me at all.”

3) “I can’t take this anymore.” 4) “I will talk to my lawyer.”

5) “My mother is
coming for a visit 6) “Your father
tomorrow.” is getting
married again.”

7) “I’m really not that

hungry tonight.” 8) “I’ve forgotten
my wallet.”

9) “I bought a really expensive dress last week.” 10) “My boss fired me yesterday.”

11) “I have lied to you before.” 12) “Your sister loves me.”
 KEY: She / He said (that)…

1) their daughter was pregnant. 2) that didn’t surprise him at all.

3) she couldn’t take that anymore. 4) he would talk to his lawyer.

5) her mother was

coming for a visit 6) her father
the next / following was getting
day. married again.

7) she was really not

that hungry that night. 8) he had
forgotten his
wallet.

9) she had bought a really expensive dress the

10) his boss had fired him the day
week before / the previous week.
before.

11) she had lied to him before.

12) her sister loved him.