1. Changing Tenses in Reported Speech
Direct Speech → Reported Speech
Present simple → Past simple
I play football. → He said he played football.
Present continuous → Past continuous
I am studying.→ She said she was studying.
Present perfect → Past perfect
I have finished. → He said he had finished.
Past simple → Past perfect
I saw him.→ She said she had seen him.
Will / shall → Would
I will help. → He said he would help.
Can → Could
I can drive. → She said she could drive.
👉 Note: Past perfect tense stays the same (no change).
2. Changing Pronouns
Direct Speech Reported Speech Example
I → he/she "I am tired." → He said he was tired.
My → his/her "My book is here." → She said her book was there.
Me → him/her "He gave me the keys." → She said he gave her the keys.
You → he/she/they "You are late." → He said I was late / He said she was late.
3. Changing Time and Place Expressions
Direct Speech Reported Speech
Now → Then "I need it now." → He said he needed it then.
Today → That day "Today is cold." → She said that day was cold.
Tomorrow → The next day / following day "I will go tomorrow." → He said he would go the next day.
Yesterday → The day before / previous day "I saw him yesterday." → She said she had seen him the day before.
Here → There "I live here." → He said he lived there.
This → That "This is mine." → She said that was hers.
These → Those "These are expensive." → He said those were expensive.
4. Changing Sentence Types
➡ A) Statements
Use: said (that) or told (someone) (that)
Example:
"I am happy." → He said (that) he was happy.
➡ B) Yes/No Questions
Use: asked if/whether
Example:
"Are you okay?" → He asked if I was okay.
"Can you help me?" → She asked whether I could help her.
➡ C) Wh- Questions
Use: asked + question word (wh-word) + subject + verb
Example:
"Where do you live?" → He asked where I lived.
"Why did you leave?" → She asked why I had left.
➡ D) Commands and Orders
Use: told/ordered + (object) + to/not to + verb
Examples:
"Close the door." → He told me to close the door.
"Don't be late." → She told me not to be late.
➡ E) Requests
Use: asked/requested + (object) + to/not to + verb
Examples:
"Please help me." → She asked me to help her.
"Could you carry this?" → He asked me to carry it.
"Don't make noise." → She asked me not to make noise.
5. When NOT to Change the Verb Tense:
If the reporting verb is in present tense:
"I like pizza." → She says she likes pizza.
If the fact is still true (general truths):
"Water boils at 100°C." → He said that water boils at 100°C.
If the action is still happening or future:
"I am going tomorrow." → She said she is going tomorrow.