0
Submit

Spoken English


English Tutorial


Admission Enquiry Form


Change of Reporting Verb

Direct Speech Reporting VerbIndirect Speech Reporting Verb
saysay
sayssays
say totell
says totells
has/have saidhas/have said
is sayingis saying
will/shall saywill/shall say
saidsaid
said totold



Change the Verb or Tense in Case of Present or Future Tense

Rule 1: If the reporting verb is in present or future tense, then the tense of the Reported Speech verb will not be changed.

Examples:

  1. Direct: He says,"I come here."
    Indirect: He says that he comes here.
  2. Direct: The teacher says,"Riya dances on the stage."
    Indirect: The teacher says that Riya dances on the stage.
  3. Direct: He has said,"Rani danced on the stage."
    Indirect: He has said that Rani danced on the stage.
  4. Direct: The teacher is saying,"Riya has danced on the stage."
    Indirect: The teacher is saying that Riya has danced on the stage.
  5. Direct: The teacher will say,"Rani is dancing on the stage."
    Indirect: The teacher will say that Rani is dancing on the stage.



Change the Verb or Tense in Case of Past Tense

Rule 2: If the reporting verb is in past tense, then the tense of the Reported Speech verb will be changed in following tenses:

Tense of Direct Speech Tense of Reported Verb
Present Tense
Present Simple/Indefinite Tense Past Simple/Indefinite Tense
Present Continuous Tense Past Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Tense Past Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Tense
Past Simple/Indefinite Tense Past Perfect Tense
Past Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense No Change
Past Perfect Continuous Tense No Change
Future Tense
Will/shall Would
Will/shall be Would be
Will/shall Have Would Have
Will Have Been Would Have Been
Can Could
May Might



Change in Time and Place

Today That Day
Tomorrow The Next Day
Yesterdey The Previous Day/The Day Before
Tonight That Night
Last The Previous
Here There
This That
These Those
Ago Before
Now Then
Last Night The Previous Night
Last Week The Previous Week
Next Week The Following Week



Examples of Present Tense

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Present Tense
Present Indefinite changes into Past Indefinite Tense
You said to me,"I teach you English." You told me that you taught me English.
I said to Mohan,"You learn your lesson." I told Mohan that he learnt his lesson.
She said,"I teach kids." She said that she taught kids.
They said,"We do not like coffee." They said that they did not like coffee.
She said to me,"I work in a hospital." She told me that she worked in a hospital.
Present Continuous changes into Past Continuous Tense
He said to us,"You are writing a letter now." He told us that we was writing a letter then.
Sharda said to me,"I am boiling rice for you." Sharda told me that she was boiling rice for me.
She said to us,"You are scolding us." She told us that we were scolding her.
The teacher said to the boys,"You are making a noise." The teacher told the boys that they were making a noise.
They said ,"We are decorating the room." They said that they were decorating the room.
He said to me,"I am not going to college." He told me that he was not going to college.
He said to them,"She is disturbing you now." He told them that she was disturbing them then.
He said,"I am milking the cow." He said that he was milking the cow.
Present Perfect changes into Past Perfect Tense
They said to us,"You have done your work." They told us that we had done our work.
She said to them,"You have cheated me." She told them that they had cheated her.
She said to me,"I have seen the Zoo twice." She told me that she had seen the Zoo twice.
She said,"I have bought a computer." She said that she had bought a computer.
He said,"I have not received the letter." He said that he had not received the letter.
They said,"We have started a business." They said that they had started a business.
Present Perfect Continuous changes into Past Perfect Continuous Tense
He said,"It has been raining since morning." He said that it had been raining since morning.
She said to me,"I have been studying since morning." She told me that she had been studying since morning.
She said to us,"You have been beating your brother for ten minutes." She told us that we had been beating our brother for ten minutes.
The engineer said,"I have been repairing a machine since 9 o'clock." The engineer said that he had been reapiring a machine since 9 o'clock.
She said to me,"I have been teaching students for six years." She told me that she had been teaching students for six years.
He said,"The patient has not been taking medicine for one year." He said that the patient had not been taking medicine for one year.



Examples of Past Tense

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Past Tense
Past Indefinite changes into Past Perfect Tense
The gardener said to me,"Your brother spoiled my garden". The gardener told me that my brother had spoiled his garden.
She said to us,"You deceived me yesterday". She told us that we deceived her the previous day.
She said to me,"I took the breakfast in the morning." She told me that she had taken the breakfast in the morning..
They said,"We won a prize". They said that they had won a prize.
She said to me,"I did not enjoy the party". She told me that she had not enjoyed the party.
Past Continuous changes into Past Perfect Continuous Tense
He said,"I was listening to the running commentary". He said that he had been listening the running commentary.
The teacher said to the students,"You were making a noise". The teacher told the students that they had been making a noise.
He said to her,"You were dancing on the stage". He told her that she had been dancing on the stage.
He said to me,"You were sleeping when I called you". He told me that I had been sleeping when he called me.
He said,"I was writing a story". He said that he had been writing a story.
They said,"We were watching a movie". They said that they had been watching movie.
Mother said to me,"I was washing the clothes". Mother told me that she had been washing clothes.
Past Perfect remains the same.
He said,"I had gone to institute". He said that he had gone to institute.
She said to them,"I had completed the task." She told them that they had completed the task.
Mohan said,"I had resolved the issue". Mohan said that he had resolved the issue.
Present Perfect Continuous remains the same.
He said,"It had been raining since morning." He said that it had been raining since morning.
She said to me,"I had been studying since morning." She told me that she had been studying since morning.
They said,"I had been helping poor people for three years". They said that they had been helping poor people for three years.
She said to me,"I had been teaching students for six years." She told me that she had been teaching students for six years.



Examples of Future Tense

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Future Tense
Future Indefinite: will/shall changes into would
He said to me, "I will get a job soon." He told me that he would get a job soon.
They said to me, "We will not give up." They told me that they wouldn`t give up.
Ram said to Rima, "I shall write a letter." Ram told Rima that he would write a letter.
Shikha said to Shivang, "You will attend the Party tomorrow." Shikha told Shivang that she would attend the party next day.
She said to me,"I shall leave you soon". She told me that she would leave me soon.
Future Continuous: will be/shall be changes into would be
Rahim said to Ram, "Sita will be waiting for you." Rahim told Ram that Sita would be waiting for him.
I said to her, "I shall be writing an essay." I told her that I should be writing an essay.
Rohan said "I will be late." Rohan said that he would be late.
They said, "We will be reaching the market by 3 pm". They said that they would be reaching the market by 3 pm.
He said, "We will be washing the clothes". He said that they would be washing the clothes.
She said,"I shall be cleaning the room". She said that she would be cleaning the room.
Future Perfect will have changes into would have
She said,"I will have to go home". She said that she would have to go home.
You said,"I will have lived in Delhi". You said that you would have lived in Delhi.
He said to me, "I will have done my homework." He told me that he would have done his homework.
He said to me, "I will not have done my homework." He told me that he wouldn't have done his homework.
She said,"They will have passed the examination." She said that they would have passed the examination.
She said,"Rohan will have spoken the truth." She said that Rohan would have spoken the truth.
Future Perfect Continuous will have been changes into would have been

He said,"Mohan will have been living in Canada since 8th March."

 He said that Mohan would have been living in Canada since 8th March.
The boy said,"They will have been waiting for me". The boy said that they would have been for me.
She said,"I will have been married in 2 years". She said that she would have been married in 2 years.
They said to me,"We will have been going to college since Monday." They told me that they would have been going to college since Monday.
I said,"I will have been living in Chandigarh". I said that I would have been living in Chandigarh.
You said,"I will not have been using my computer for three days". You said that you would not have been using your computer for three days.



Indirect Speech for Modals:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Modals
Can changes into Could
She said,"I can dance". She said that she could dance.
Rima said to me,"I can speak English". Rima told me that she could speak English.
He said,"I can solve these sums easily". He said that he could solve these sums easily.
The teacher said to us,"You cannot solve this problem". The teacher told us that we could not solve that problem.
She said to me,"I can speak four different languages". She told me that she could speak four different languages.
May changes into Might
They said,"We may call the police". They said that they might call the police
She said,"It may rain in the evening". She said that it might rain in the evening.
He said,"I may buy a new computer." He said that he might buy a new computer.
She said,"I may not attend the meeting". She said that she might not attend the meeting.
Must changes into Had To
He said,"I must eat a healthy diet". He said that he had to eat a healthy diet.
"You must practice four times a week," the teacher said. The teacher said that I had to practice four times a week.
"Riya must discuss the matter with Siya," she said. She said that Riya had to discuss the matter with Siya.
They said,"We must help the poor people". They said that they had to help the poor people.
Should remains tha same

"Jenny should write the report," said Jiya. 

 Jiya said that Jenny should write the report.
The patient said,"I should take my medicine". The patient said that he should take his medicine.
Might remains tha same

He said,"I might change my decision".

 He said that he might change his decision.
 He said to me , "I might drive a car". He told me that he might drive a car.
 She said, "I may learn electronics". She told that she might learn electronics
Could remains tha same

He said,"I could pass the exam".

 He said that he could pass the exam.
 He said to me, "I could not speak English a few years ago." He told me that he could not speak English a few years back.
"I could write the report," Hema said. Hema said that she could write the report.
Would remains tha same

He said to me, "You would not keep up with them."

 He told me that I would not keep up with them.
She said,"I would decorate my house". She said that she would decorate her house.
They said,"We would start a business". They said that they would start a business.