Table of Contents
No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech
The Introductory Verb is in the Present, Present Perfect or Future
Example:
Direct speech: He says, “I will come”.
Reported speech: He says that he will come.
Fact or General Truth
If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth, the present tense is (can be) retained.
Example:
Direct speech: Copernicus: “The planets revolve around the sun.“
Indirect speech: Copernicus stated that the planets revolve around the sun.
Time Clause
The reported sentence contains a time clause, the tenses of the time clause remain unchanged.
Example:
Direct speech: She said, “His parents died while he was still at school.”
Indirect speech: She said that his parents had died while he was still at school.
The Second or the Third Conditional
The verb of the sentence is in the unreal past (the second or the third conditional).
Example:
Direct speech: He said, “If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.“
Reported speech: He said that he would travel around the world if he won the lottery.
The Subjunctive
The subjunctive stays unchanged in the subordinate clause.
Example:
Direct speech: The children said, “We wish we didn’t have to take exams.”
Reported speech: The children said they wished they didn’t have to take exams.
“Had Better”, “Could”, “Would”, “Used to”, “Should”, “Might”, “Ought to” and “Mustn’t” Remain Unchanged
Example:
Direct speech: He said, “You had better to be inside in such bad weather.“
Indirect speech: He said that I had better to be inside in such bad weather.
Direct speech: He said, “Ann might ring today.”
Reported speech: He said that Ann might ring that day.
Report Something Immediately
If the speaker reports something immediately or soon after it was said, the clause often remains as spoken.
Example:
A: What did the teacher say?
B: He said that we write our lesson carefully.
No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech | Image
Reported Speech: Useful Rules & Examples
- Verb Tense Changes in Reported Speech
- No Change in Verb Tenses in Indirect Speech
- Changes in Time and Place in Reported Speech
- Introductory Verbs List
- Pronouns in Reported Speech
- Reported Questions
- Reported Commands & Requests
Great article here. However, I beg to differ with your example in the Time Clause section. It personally doesn’t sound right to change the tense there just because one feels like. A change only sounds right and is to be expected when it’s an aorist subjunctive, i.e. reference to an extremely punctillar action in time. To die is not a punctillar action. Here’s an example: She said, “His father committed a crime while he was still at school.” Indirect speech: She said that his father had committed a crime while he was still at school.————————————–> CORRECT She said, “His father died while he was… Read more »
Which is correct? She said that I can
apply for the new post but it will mean
working longer hours. OR. She said that I could apply for the new post but it would mean working longer hours.
Excellent to use for a quick check-up! Thanx!