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2. Reported Speech and the Sequence of Tenses
Suppose we want to share something a person said, but we dont want to use a direct
quotation. How do we do it?
We need to transform pronouns, verb tenses (using something called the sequence of
tenses), and place and time words.
Say/Ask Verb in the Present or Future
When the say/ask verb is in the present or future, the reported speech does not change.
Note: For statements, we insert that after the say verb in the reported speech. We also
need to change the pronouns. For example, when we report something Bill says about
himself, we use he instead of I.
Bill says, I want to go to the zoo.
Bill says that he wants to go to the zoo.
3. When she sees the skyline for the first time, Carla will say, I love New York!
When she sees the skyline for the first time, Carla will say that she loves New
York.
Note: For yes/no questions, use whether instead of that. For all other
questions, use the question word in the original (e.g., when, where, what, or why).
Jake asks, Does she attend your school?
Jake asks whether she attends my school.
Paula asks, When will she come back?
Paula asks when she will come back.
4. Say/Ask Verb in the Past
When the say/ask verb is in the past, the reported speech should be in the past as well.
Original speech tense>Reported speech tense
Simple present>Simple past
Donna said, I hate grapes!
Donna said that she hated grapes.
Present continuous>Past continuous
Mark said, I am going to see the Statue of Liberty.
Mark said that he was going to see the Statue of Liberty.
Present perfect>Past perfect
5. Tanya said, I have visited twenty countries.
Tanya said that she had visited twenty countries.
Present perfect continuous>Past perfect continuous
Libby asked, Has Susan been planning to attend Harvard for a long time?
Libby asked whether Susan had been planning to attend Harvard for a long time.
Simple past>Past perfect
Margery asked, Did you wash the dishes?
Margery asked whether I had washed the dishes.
Past continuous>Past perfect continuous
Larry said, I was planning to go to the carnival.
Larry said that he had been planning to go to the carnival.
6. Past perfect>Past perfect
Jill said, I had just arrived when the phone rang.
Jill said that she had just arrived when the phone rang.
Past perfect continuous>Past perfect continuous
Tom said, When I turned thirteen, my dad had been working as a plumber for three
years.
Tom said that when he turned thirteen, his dad had been working as a plumber for three
years.
Future>Future in the past (will>would and can>could).
Maggie asked, When will you leave for Los Angeles?
Maggie asked when I would leave for Los Angeles.
7. Changing Pronouns and Adverbs of Time and Place
When we use reported speech (indirect quotations), we must also change certain pronouns
and adverbs (of time and place).
Original speech pronoun>Reported speech pronoun
this>that
these>those
John said, I love this movie!
John said that he loved that movie.
today>on that day
this morning or afternoon>that morning or afternoon
tonight>that night
8. Carol said, I will attend a play tonight.
Carol said that she would attend a play that night.
now>then
tomorrow>the following day
next week or month>the following week or month
Pam said, I will move to Bushwick next week.
Pam said that she would move to Bushwick the following week.
in a few days>a few days later
yesterday>the day before
last week or month>the week or month before
Carol said, I will attend a play tonight.
Carol said that she would attend a play that night.
9. now>then
tomorrow>the following day
next week or month>the following week or month
Pam said, I will move to Bushwick next week.
Pam said that she would move to Bushwick the following week.
in a few days>a few days later
yesterday>the day before
last week or month>the week or month before
five days ago>five days before
a week ago>a week before
here>there
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