Change of Tenses in the Reporting Speech:
1. Present Tense:
If the Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense and the Reporting Speech is in Present Tense
(all kinds: simple/continuous/perfect/perfect, continuous): Then we make the following changes in the reporting speech accordingly.
Rules | Examples |
The simple present tense is changed to the simple past tense. | Direct: She said, ”I am unwell.” Indirect: She said that she was unwell. Direct: They said, ”We play cricket.” Indirect: They said that they played cricket. Direct: She said, "I like ice cream." Direct: He said, "I play football every weekend." Direct: He said, "The weather is nice today." Direct: They said, "We are ready for the test." Direct: They said, "We live in London." Direct: The teacher said, "This lesson is important." Direct: She said, "My parents are at home." Direct: She said, "My brother works in a bank." Direct: The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." Direct: She said, "He is very kind." Direct: He said, "They are in the garden." Direct: He said, "I always wake up early." Direct: She said, "John studies very hard." Direct: They said, "We are excited for the trip." Direct: John said, "I am hungry." Direct: She said, "I am happy." Direct: He said, "She is my best friend." Direct: They said, "We often go to the park." Direct: He said, "I need some help." Direct: She said, "I feel happy today." |
The present continuous tense is changed to the past continuous tense. | Direct: She explained, ”I am playing a guitar.” Indirect: She explained that she was playing a guitar. Direct: He said, "I am watching a movie." Direct: They said, "We are playing football." Direct: She said, "My mother is cooking dinner." Direct: The teacher said, "You are not listening." Direct: He said, "I am waiting for my friend." Direct: She said, "We are traveling to Paris." Direct: They said, "It is raining outside." Direct: He said, "I am learning Spanish." Direct: She said, "I am feeling tired." |
The present perfect tense is changed to the past perfect tense. | Direct: She said, ”I have already completed my work.” Indirect: She said that she had already completed her work. Direct: She said, "I have finished my homework." Direct: He said, "I have seen that movie before." Direct: They said, "We have completed the project." Direct: She said, "I have visited Paris twice." Direct: The teacher said, "You have made a mistake." Direct: He said, "I have lost my keys." Direct: She said, "We have never been to London before." Direct: They said, "The train has already left." Direct: He said, "I have just eaten lunch." Direct: She said, "I have bought a new dress." |
The present perfect continuous tense is changed to the past perfect continuous tense. | Direct: He said, ”I have been living in Lahore since 2001.” Indirect: He said that he had been living in Lahore since 2001. Direct: She said, "I have been studying for three hours." Direct: He said, "I have been working here since 2015." Direct: They said, "We have been waiting for you." Direct: She said, "I have been feeling sick lately." Direct: The teacher said, "You have been talking too much." Direct: He said, "I have been reading this book all day." Direct: She said, "We have been living here for five years." Direct: They said, "It has been raining since morning." Direct: He said, "I have been trying to call you." Direct: She said, "I have been thinking about this idea." |
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