Rules for changing Direct to Indirect Speech- All Tenses

DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH

PRESENT TENSE
Simple Present changes to simple past
1. She said, “I work in the hospital.” She said that she worked in the hospital.
2. They said, “We play football.” They said that they played football.
3. She said, “I don’t waste time.” She said that she didn’t waste time.
Present Continuous changes into Past Continuous
1. David said, “I am not going to college.” David said that he was going to the college.
2. I said, “She was driving a car.” I said that she was driving a car.
3. She said, “They are enjoying the music.” They said that they were enjoying the music.
Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect
1. She said, “I have completed the work.” She said that she had completed the work.
2. John said, “I have won the prize.” John said that he had won the prize.
3. He said, “She has washed the clothes.” He said that she had washed the clothes.
Present Perfect Continuous changes to Past perfect continuous
1. She said, “I have been working in a factory for two She said she had been working in a factory for two years.
years.”
2. Dorji said, “He has been waiting for his brother for Dorji said that he had been waiting for his brother three
three hours.” hours.
3. They said, “We have been living in America since They said that they had been living in America since 2000
2000.”
PAST TENSE
Simple Past changes to Past Perfect
1. He said, “I started a job.” He said that he had started a job.
2. They said, “We went to a market.” They said that they had gone to the market.
3. She said to me, “You didn’t help me.” She said to me that I didn’t help her.
Past Continuous changes into Past Perfect Continuous
1. He said, “I was writing a poem.” He said that he had been writing a poem.
2. The kids said, “We were playing a game.” The kids said that they had been playing a game.
3. She said, “They were not making noise.” She said that they had not been making noise.
Past Perfect remains same
1. They said, “We had won the game.” They said that they had won the game.
2. He said, “I had gone home.” He said that I had gone home.
3. She said, “I had not received the letter.” She said that I had not received the letter.”
Past Perfect Continuous remains same
1. He said, “I had been using the same car since 2005.” He said that he had been using the same car since 2005.
2. She said, “I had been reading a book since 10 a.m.” She said that she had been reading a book since 10 a.m
FUTURE TENSE
Simple Future (will) changes into (would be)
1. She said, “I will go to London.” She said that she would go to London.
2. They said, “We will celebrate the birthday of our They said that they would celebrate the birthday of their
son.” son.
3. You said, “I will not waste any time.” You said that you would not waste your time.
 Future Continuous ( will be) changes into would be
1. She said, “I will be for cleaning the room.” She said that she would be cleaning room.
2. The kids said, “We will be playing the toys.” The kids said that they would be playing with toys.
3. He said to me, “I will be waiting for you.” He said to me that he would be waiting to me.
Future Perfect ( will have) changes into would have
1. He said, “I will have started a new job.” He said that he would have started a new job.
2. They said, “We will have succeeded in our mission.” They said that they would have succeeded in their
mission.
3. John said, “I will have called the doctor.” John said that he would have called the doctor.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
1. He said, “David will have been living in America He said that David would have been living I America
since 10 April.”
th
since 10th April
2. She said, “I will have been listening to music since 9 She said that she would have been listening to the music
a.m.” since 9 a.m.
3. They said, “We will be going to college since They said they would have been going to college since
Monday.” Monday.

Indicative, imperative, subjunctiveand infinitive are the four moods of English verbs. All
manners and moods are expressed through these four verbs.

While verb tenses (present, past and future) are used to talk about time, the four mood verbs
show states, attitudes and reality.

Indicative Mood

We use the indicative mood to express:

Assertion - Heathrow is the world's busiest airport.

Denial - Oliver cannot speak English.

Question - Do you work in the city?

Imperative Mood

We use the imperative mood to express requests, commands and advice:

Request - Please don't talk in lesson.

Advice - Look out!

Command - Shut that door.

Subjunctive Mood

We use the subjunctive mood to express unreal situations, possibility and wish.

Unreal - If I were rich, I would buy a sports car.

Possibility - We might find her ring if we were to look hard enough.

Wish - I wish it would stop raining.

Infinitive Mood

Verbs in the infinitive mood are used as parts of speech more than verbs. It expresses being or
action.

I may go to the beach later.

They came to speak to me.

It's important to eat well.

Now decide which mood is being used:

1) Let's go for a walk.

indicative

imperative

infinitive

subjunctive

2) Where are you from?

infinitive

indicative

imperative

subjunctive

3) If I had studied harder, I would have passed.

infinitive

indicative

imperative

subjunctive

4) Stop writing, put your pens down.

infinitive

subjunctive

indicative

imperative

5) Science is fascinating.

indicative

infinitive

subjunctive

imperative

6) I wish we were able to speak perfect English.

indicative

subjunctive

infinitive

imperative

7) To forgive is divine.

indicative

infinitive

imperative

subjunctive

8) To sleep, perchance to dream.

subjunctive
infinitive

imperative

indicative