If the reporting verb ie said is in the past the

If the reporting verb (i.e. said) is in the past, the reported clause will be in a past form. This
form is usually one step back into the past from the original.
For example:
He said the test was difficult.
She said she watched TV every day.
Jack said he came to school every day.
If simple present, present perfect or the future is used in the reporting verb (i.e. says) the
tense is retained.
For example:
He says the test is difficult.
She has said that she watches TV every day.
Jack will say that he comes to school every day.
If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained.
For example: The teacher said that phrasal verbs are very important.
RULES FOR CHANGING DIRECT INTO INDIRECT:
1. Pronoun Change:
First person pronoun according to the Subject
Second person pronoun according to Object.
Third person pronoun No change.
Subject Pronoun:
First Person:
I
We
Second Person:
You
Third Person:
He
Possessive Pronoun:
First Person:
My
Our
Second Person:
Your
Third Person:
His
Object Pronoun:
First Person:
Me
Us
Second Person:
You
Third Person:
Him

Elementary English – ENG 001 VU
© Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan 55
She
It
They
Her
Its
Their
Her
It
Them
For example:
1. He said, “I like you.”
He told me that he liked me.
2. He said, “I will accept your offer.”
He told me that he would accept my offer.
3.Adjective and adverb changes:
 This becomes That
 These becomes Those
 Here becomes There
 Now becomes Then
 Today becomes That day
 Yesterday becomes Preceding day or previous day
 Tomorrow becomes Next day or following day
3. Verb changes:
 See (pres.) becomes saw (past)
 Saw had seen
 Is seen was seen
 Has seen had seen
 Was seeing had been seen
 Shall /will should/would
 Be were
 Can/may could/might
For example:
 Direct speech:
“In many parts of the country farmers who were formerly ploughing nearly all their land
now have most of it under grass.”
 Indirect speech:
He said that in many parts of the country farmers who had formerly been ploughing nearly
all their land then had most of it under grass

Elementary English – ENG 001 VU
© Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan 56
Indirect Questions
When reporting questions, it is especially important to pay attention to sentence order. When
reporting yes/no questions connect the reported question using 'if'. When reporting questions
using question words (why, where, when, etc.) use the question word.
For example:
 She asked, "Do you want to come with me?" BECOMES She asked me if I wanted to
come with her.
 Dave asked, "Where did you go last weekend?" BECOMES Dave asked me where I
had gone the previous weekend.
 He asked, "Why are you studying English?" BECOMES She asked me why I was
studying English.
 “Will he come?” BECOMES He asked would he come.