If we report what another person has said, we

usually do not use the speaker’s exact words

here there
ago before
When we report statements that were made in the past, we before earlier
change the tense of the original (direct) speech. last week the week before
next week the week after/the following week
Changes are following: now then/that day
DIRECT SPEECH INDIRECT SPEECH this morning that morning
Present Simple Past Simple today that day
‘I want to buy it.’ She said (that) she wanted to buy it. tomorrow the next day/the following day
Present Continuous Past Continuous yesterday the day before/ the previous day
‘I am reading a book.’ He said (that) he was reading a book.
Present Perfect Past Perfect
‘I have made a mistake.’ He said (that) he had made a mistake.
Past Simple Past Perfect  When we report questions, we do not follow
the normal question order. Instead, we use
‘I saw you in the city.’ She said (that) she had seen me in the city. the word order of a statement.
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous ‘Can I leave?’ I asked if I could leave.
‘I was trying to do it.’ He said(that) he had been trying to do it.  We do not use question mark in the
will would reported question.
‘I’ll do it.’ He said (that) he would do it.  Tense changes are the same as for reported
statements.
can could
‘I can do it.’ He said (that) he could do it. When we report questions that can be answered with:
may might -yes or no: we use a noun clause beginning with if or whether.
‘I may do it.’ He said he might do it. ‘Does he live in a big flat?’ She asked if/whether he lived in a big flat.
We must use whether not if, when we are asking someone
must had to to make a choice or with the phrase… or not .
‘I must do it.’ He said (that) he had to do it. ‘Do you want coffee or tea?’ She asked me whether I wanted tea or
coffee.
‘Is he coming or not?’ She asked whether he was coming or not.
-wh question we use the wh-word (who, what, where, when) or
When we report requests, orders or commands we
how, how long, …
often use the pattern:
‘Who lives there?’ He asked me who lived there.
ask somebody to do something ‘What are you doing?’ She asked me what I was doing.
Examples
‘Please, let me watch the match, Mum,’ Jack said.
Jack asked his mum to let him watch the match.
‘Don’t do it.’ She told him not to do it.
Read the statements then rewrite them into indirect speech:
Change The following sentences into indirect speech. 1.Betty said __________________________
1. ‘Can I have some more money?’ I went shopping __________________________________
The boy asked ________________________________ yesterday. (Mary)
2. ‘I won’t help you.’ 2. Ana said __________________
Joan said ____________________________________ My friend from America 3. Ian said __________________
3. ‘I’ll bring it back tomorrow.’ is visiting me. (John) 4. Eva said __________________
Peter promised _______________________________
4. ‘Did he bring the book back?’ _______________________
I haven’t done much
Eva asked___________________________________ 5. John said ______________
5. ‘Stay in bed for few days.’ but tomorrow I am
Doctor told __________________________________ going to cinema. (Eva) 6. Mary said _____________
6. ‘Will you marry me?’ 7. Phil said ______________
John asked __________________________________ I have been working
all week. (Mark) 8. Mark said ______________
7. ‘I was working yesterday.’
She said ____________________________________ My sister had a baby on
8. Are you going to buy it or not? I was fixing my
Monday, so I went to see her.
Daniel asked _________________________________ car. (Ian)
(Betty)
9.’We have been running.’
They said ___________________________________ I was sick.(Phil) I have been to London. (Ana)