Tense changes
In reported speech we change Present Simple to
Past Simple
In reported speech we change can to
could
In reported speech we change I to
he or she
“I’m tired,” he said.
He said (that) he was tired.
“Where do you live?” she asked.
She asked where I lived.
In reported speech we change Past Simple to
Past Perfect Simple
In reported speech we change must to
must or had to
In reported speech we change this to
these
“We are studying English,” they said
They said (that) they were studying English.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
He asked what I was doing.
In reported speech we change Present Perfect Continuous to
Past Perfect Continuous
In reported speech we change will to
would
In reported speech we change today to
that day
“I didn’t like the movie,” she said.
She said (that) she hadn’t liked the movie.
“Did you see the film?” she asked.
She asked if/whether I had seen the film.
In reported speech we change Past Continuous to
Past Perfect Continuous
In reported speech we change shall to
should
In reported speech we change tomorrow to
the following day
“I haven’t seen John,” she said.
She said (that) she hadn’t seen John.
“Can you help me?” he asked.
He asked if/whether I could help him.
In reported speech we change Present Perfect Simple to
Past Perfect Simple
In reported speech we change may to
might
In reported speech we change yesterday to
the day before
“I’ll call you when I arrive,” he said.
He said (that) he would call me when he arrived.
“Why didn’t you call me?” she asked.
She asked why I hadn’t called her.