Learning English involves more than just vocabulary—it’s about understanding how to express what others say. One key skill in this is moving between direct speech (quoting someone’s exact words) and reported speech (paraphrasing what was said). Today, we’ll explore how to transform different tenses from direct to reported speech, step by step. Let’s dive in!
What’s the Difference Between Direct and Reported Speech?
- Direct Speech: Exact words spoken, often enclosed in quotation marks.
Example: She said, “I work in Paris.” - Reported Speech: Retelling what someone said, adjusting the grammar to match the context.
Example: She said she worked in Paris.
How Tenses Change in Reported Speech?
When switching from direct to reported speech, the tense often shifts back one step. Let’s break it down:
1. Present Simple → Past Simple
Direct Speech: “I work in Paris.”
Reported Speech: He said he worked in Paris.
2. Present Continuous → Past Continuous
Direct Speech: “Bob is annoying me.”
Reported Speech: Jane said Bob was annoying her.
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3. Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
Direct Speech: “I have been working here for two years.”
Reported Speech: He said he had been working there for two years.
4. Past Simple → Past Perfect
Direct Speech: “My friend gave me a bar of chocolate.”
Reported Speech: He said his friend had given him a bar of chocolate.
5. Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
Direct Speech: “The team were playing well.”
Reported Speech: They said the team had been playing well.
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6. Past Perfect → No Change
Direct Speech: “I had arrived before the game.”
Reported Speech: She said she had arrived before the game.
➡️ Note: The past perfect tense does not change when reporting speech.
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7. Past Perfect Continuous → No Change
Direct Speech: “I had been working for two hours.”
Reported Speech: He said he had been working for two hours.
➡️ Note: Like the past perfect, the past perfect continuous tense remains unchanged.
Quick Tips for Accurate Reporting
1. Change Pronouns: Adjust pronouns based on who’s reporting.
I work in Paris.” → He said he worked in Paris.
2. Shift Time and Place Words: Adapt expressions like “here,” “today,” or “now.”
“I’ll go there tomorrow.” → She said she would go there the next day.
3. No Change in Universal Truths: Keep the tense for facts.
“The sun rises in the east.” → He said the sun rises in the east.
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