A

GENERAL RULES FOR DIRECT INDIRECT SPEECH

Aspect Direct Speech Indirect Speech

1 Reporting Verb He said, "I am happy." He said that he was happy.
2 Adjust pronouns based on context: "I" → "he/she",
Pronoun Changes "I" becomes "he/she"
etc.
3 Time Expressions "now" → "then" Adjust based on timeline (e.g., "today" → "that day")
"tomorrow" → "the next day"
"yesterday" → "the previous
day"
4 Place Expressions "here" becomes "there" Modify location references based on context
5 Conjunctions "I am leaving now," he said. He said that he was leaving then.
Conjunction "that" is often added after verbs like
said, told for smoother flow.
6 Removal of Inverted "I like this book," she said. She said that she liked that book.
Commas Inverted commas are removed in indirect speech.

If the reporting verb is in the Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present

Perfect and Future tense, the tense in the reported speech does not change.

Reporting
Direct Speech Indirect Speech Explanation
Verb Tense
1 No tense change in reported speech.
Simple He says, "I am busy He says that he is busy
"am" remains "is" as reporting verb is
Present now." now.
in present tense.
She says, "We will She says that they will Future tense in reported speech remains
leave tomorrow." leave tomorrow. "will".
2 Present tense in reported speech remains
Present She is saying, "I need She is saying that she needs
the same as the reporting verb is in
Continuous help today." help today.
present continuous.
He is saying, "I can He is saying that he can "can" remains "can" in indirect
come later." come later. speech.
3 Past tense "finished" remains
Present He has said, "I finished He has said that he finished
unchanged in reported speech due to
Perfect my work yesterday." his work yesterday.
present perfect reporting verb.
They have said, "We They have said that they are "are" remains "are" in reported
are happy here." happy here. speech, as reporting verb is in present
perfect.
I am sure you will say, I am sure you will say that ‘Like’ remains ‘like’ in reported speech
‘I like the decoration’ you like the decoration. as reporting verb is in simple future.
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Change of TENSES when the Reporting Verb is in Simple Past ‘SAID’

Aspect Direct Speech Indirect Speech Notes

1 He said that he was
Statements "I am happy." Present changes to Past
happy.
2 He said that he ate an
Present Simple "I eat an apple." am/is/are → was/were
apple.
3 He said that he was eating Verb form changes to
Present Continuous "I am eating an apple."
an apple. Continuous form
4 He said that he had eaten
Present Perfect "I have eaten an apple." have/has → had
an apple.
5 Present Perfect "I have been eating an He said that he had been
have been/has been → had been
Continuous apple." eating an apple.
6 He said that he had eaten Past Simple changes to Past
Past Simple "I ate an apple."
an apple. Perfect
7 He said that he had been Past Continuous changes to Past
Past Continuous "I was eating an apple."
eating an apple. Perfect Continuous
8 He said that he had eaten
Past Perfect "I had eaten an apple." Past Perfect remains unchanged
an apple.
9 Past Perfect "I had been eating an He said that he had been Past Perfect Continuous
Continuous apple." eating an apple. remains unchanged
10 He said that he would eat
Future Simple "I will eat an apple." will changes to would
an apple.
11 He said that he would be
Future Continuous "I will be eating an apple." will be changes to would be
eating an apple.
12 "I will have eaten an He said that he would
Future Perfect will have changes to would have
apple." have eaten an apple.
13 Future Perfect "I will have been eating an He said that he would will have been changes to would
Continuous apple." have been eating an apple. have been
14 He said that he could
Modal Verbs - Can "I can swim." can changes to could
swim.
15 Modal Verbs - May "I may go." He said that he might go. may changes to might
16 He said that he had to
Modal Verbs - Must "I must leave." must changes to had to
leave.
17 "that day," "then," "the
"today," "now,"
Time Expressions previous day," "the next Change based on context
"yesterday," "tomorrow"
day"
18 Location references change based
Place Expressions "here" "there"
on context
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All Types of Sentences changes to Assertive Sentences

1 Yes/No Questions Introduce with if/whether; am/is/are

"Are you coming?" He asked if I was coming.
(interrogative) → was/were
2 WH-Questions He asked where I was No need for if/whether; tense and
"Where are you going?"
(interrogative) going. pronouns change
3 Commands Verb changes to infinitive form (to +
"Sit down." He told me to sit down.
( imperative) verb)
4 Negative
He told me not to sit
Commands "Don’t sit down." Use not to before the verb
down.
( imperative)
5 Please is omitted; use asked/told
Requests
"Please help me." He asked me to help him.
( imperative)

6 Suggestions He suggested going to the

"Let’s go to the park." Let’s changes to suggested + gerund
( imperative) park.

E
Exceptional Rules with Examples

Exception Rule Direct Speech Indirect Speech Explanation

1 Universal "The sun rises in the He said that the sun rises For universal truths, the present tense is
Truths/General Facts east." in the east. retained even in indirect speech.
2 If the sentence is already in Past Perfect
Past Perfect and Past "She had eaten He said that she had eaten
or Past Perfect Continuous, the tense does
Perfect Continuous before he arrived." before he arrived.
not change.
3 Modals 'Could',
"I could swim at age He said that he could These modal verbs do not change when
'Would', 'Should,'
5." swim at age 5. reported in indirect speech.
'Might,' and 'Ought To'
4 Direct Speech with When 'would' is part of a future
"I would go if I were He said he would go if he
'Would' in Future conditional (hypothetical), it remains as
you." were me.
Conditional 'would' in indirect speech.
5 "The exam starts For immediate reporting, the present tense
Expressions of She announces that the
now," she is retained if the action is happening in
Immediate Reporting exam starts now.
announces. the moment.
6 "He left yesterday She said he had left the Time expressions are adjusted
Mixed Time Expressions and will return day before and would individually based on the reported
tomorrow." return the next day. context.
7 Direct Questions with He asked if he had to go When 'must' implies obligation, it
"Must I go now?"
'Must' for Obligation then. changes to 'had to' in indirect speech.
8 Polite Requests with "Could you help me, He asked if I could help 'Could' and 'would' in polite requests
'Could' and 'Would' please?" him. remain the same in indirect speech.
9 Emotions/exclamations are often
No Change in Reporting
"What a wonderful She exclaimed that it was converted to expressions like
for Emotions or
surprise!" a wonderful surprise. "exclaimed," and the tense doesn’t
Exclamations
change.