DIRECT & INDIRECT

BACKSHIFT OF TENSES

Simple Present I am a carpenter. He said that he was a carpenter. Simple past

Present I’m working at the He said that he was working at Past
continuous moment. that moment. continuous

He said that he had been there Past perfect

PLACE
Simple Past I was there last year. DIRECT
the year before. simple
SPEECH
I was working when you He said that he had been working Past perfect
here there
Past continuous
came in. when I had come in. continuous
there there
I had finished my
Past perfect He said that he had finished his Past perfect in this room in that room
simple
homework when he came simple
homework when he had come in.
in.
I had been working for He said that he had been working
Past perfect
two hours when John for two hours when John had
Past perfect PRONOUNS
continuous continuous DIRECT SPEECH
showed up. showed up.
He said that he had already done Past perfect I he, she
Present perfect I have already done it.
it. simple me him, her
Present perfect I have been working here He said that he had been working Past perfect my his, her, the
continuous for two years. there for two years. continuous mine his, hers
He said that he would finish the we they
Future simple I will finish tomorrow. Would
next day. us them
He said that by the following our their, the
By next month, I will have
Future perfect month he would have finished his Would have
finished my book. ours theirs
book.
you they, them
The book is written in He said that that book was
Present passive Past passive you their, the
English. written in English.
yours theirs
Present passive Many shops are being He said that many shop were Past passive
continuous opened in the city centre. being opened in the city centre. continuous this that, the
these those, the
this book that book,
REPORTED QUESTIONS MODALS
DIRECT SPEECH DIRECT SPEECH
He asked me if I can (ability, present) could
Do you like …? TIME
liked… can (ability, future) would be able to
He asked me if I would may (possibility) might DIRECT SPEECH
Will you come…?
come… may today that day
could
He asked me if I was (permission, present)
Are you feeling…? the next day /
feeling… may tomorrow
would be allowed to the following day
(permission, future)
He asked me if I had now at that moment / then
Did you do…? must
done… must / had to at the moment at that moment /time
(obligation, present)
Have you He asked me if I had must / present , current existing , current
must
finished…? finished… (obligation, future) would have to in one hour one hour later
Were you there He asked me if I had needn't didn’t have to / last week, last the week ,the night
last…? been there last… (necessity, present) didn’t need to night before
What are you He asked me what I needn't wouldn’t have to next year , next the following year, the
doing? was doing. (necessity, future) month, etc. following month,etc.
Where are you He asked me where I shall (future time) would yesterday the day before
going? was going. shall should this evening that evening
Who are you here He asked me who I (offers, suggestions)
with? was there with. …days ago …days before
should should
When are you He asked me when I (advice / criticism) tonight that night
leaving? was leaving. will would in two week’s time two weeks later
How are you He asked me how I ago before
going to do it? was going to do it.

REPORTED SUGGESTIONS
REPORTED COMMANDS DIRECT SPEECH
DIRECT SPEECH
He suggested watching a film.
Do your homework! Dad told me to do my homework, Let’s watch a film.
He suggested that we watch a film.
Don’t talk in class! My teacher told me not to talk in class, Why don't you go to the doctor? He suggested that I go to the doctor.
I don't think you should do it
Be quiet! He told us to be quiet, He suggested that I not do it that day.
today.