Direct and Indirect Speech Rules PDF

Table of Contents

 Identify Reported Speech and Reported Speech

 Direct and Indirect Speech Punctuation Rules
 Use of Conjunction “that”
 Rules for Changing Pronouns in Indirect Speech
 Indirect Speech Rules for All Tenses
 Rules for Change in Time and Adverb in Indirect Speech
 Change in Modal Verbs
 Indirect speech for Imperative Sentences
 Indirect Speech for Exclamatory Sentences
 Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences
 Related Posts:

Identify Reported Speech and Reported Speech

Before you move further, you must know the parts of direct speech. A direct speech sentence
consist of two parts. The part that is inside the quotation marks, is called reported speech. The
other one that is out of quoted marks, is called reporting speech. Hence, direct speech
sentence has two parts; reporting verb and reported verb. Look at the examples below and
separate reporting speech and reported speech

Reporting
Direct Speech Sentence Reported Speech
Speech
He said, " I am looking for reported I am looking for reported speech
He said,
speech definition" definition"

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 Reporting
Direct Speech Sentence Reported Speech
Speech
She said, "I teach direct and indirect "I teach direct and indirect
She said,
speech" speech"
"Alex says, "I am happy to see you" Alex says, "I am happy to see you"
Mark said, "I will write a letter to the "I will write a letter to the
Mark said,
manager" manager"

Direct and Indirect Speech Punctuation Rules

Following punctuation rules in reported speech are applied

 Inverted comma are excluded

 Question mark is converted into full stop
 Exclamation mark is silenced
 Comma, in some cases, is used

Study the examples below

Punctuation
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
omitted
Alex said, " I am quite good here" Alex said that he was quite good there Quotation marks
Mark said, "How old your puppy
Mark asked how old my puppy was Question mark
is?
Alex exclaimed with joy that it was a Sign of
Alex said, "Hurrah! such a cool day
cold day Exclamation

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 Punctuation
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
omitted
Alex said, " I, who am the winner, Alex said, he, who was the winner,
Comma retained
shall appear tomorrow would appear the next day

Use of Conjunction “that”

Conjunction “that” is placed between reported and reporting speech, however, in question
sentences, it is replaced with ‘asked, inquired, etc,

Study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Alex said, "It is quite good to make reported Alex said that it was quite good to make
speech pdf assignment" reported speech pdf assignment
Alex said, "Is it easy to make reported speech Alex asked if it was easy to make reported
chart"? speech chart
Mark said, "What is main point to remember Marx asked what was main point to remember
in narration? in narration.
Alex said to me, " Are you ready for reported Alex asked me whether I was ready for
speech exercise'? reported speech exercise

Rules for Changing Pronouns in Indirect Speech

Change of pronoun in indirect speech is done with following basic rules.

Rule No: 1

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First Person

If the reporting speech has first person pronoun, it will be changed as per the pronoun the
pronoun of reported speech, if it is third person pronoun. But if first person pronoun is used
both in reporting speech and reported speech, No pronoun is changed here.

Study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

She said, " I am quite fine here" She said that she was quite fine there
He said, " I write everyday" He said that he wrote everyday
They said, " We have made good progress" They said that had made good progress
She said, " My job is writing a letter" She said that her job was writing a letter
They said, " we have good friends" They said that they had good friends
I said, " I am making practice of reported I said that I was making practice of reported
speech" speech
We said, " We are learning English" We said that we were learning English

Rule No: 2

Second Person:
If the reported speech has second person (you, yours,etc), it is changed as per the object of
reporting speech.

Study the examples below

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 Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said to her, " You are an intelligent girl" He said to her that she was an intelligent girl
She said to him, " You are not real" She said to him that he was not real
He said to me," You are a clever guy" He said to me that I was a clever guy
She said to Alex, " You are cool guy" She said to Alex that he was a cool guy

Rule No: 3

Third Person

Third Person in reported speech is not changed in indirect speech

Study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He said, "They prefer singing" He said that they preferred singing
They said, "It is hard to bear cold" They said that it was hard to bear cold
Alex said, "He likes chocolate" Alex said that he liked chocolate
They said, "She is waiting for Alex" They said that she was waiting for Alex

Indirect Speech Rules for All Tenses

Read below the complete rules how to make indirect speech of present tense, past tense and
future tense.

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 Tense Change Rules Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Present Simple into Alex said, "I always wait for Alex said that he always waited
Past Simple Tense Mark here for Mark there.
Present Continuous Alex said, "I am waiting for Alex said that he was waiting
into Past Continuous Mark" for Mark
Present Perfect into Alex said, "I have completed Alex said that he had completed
Past Perfect my essay" his essay.
Present Perfect
Alex said, "I have been Alex said that he had been
Continuous into Past Perfect
waiting for Mark" waiting for Mark.
Continuous
Simple past into Past Perfect Alex said,"Mark received a Alex said that Mark had
Tense letter" received a letter.
Past Perfect into Past Perfect Alex said, "I had listened to Alex said that had listened to
Tense your questions" my questions.
Future simple tense (will into Alex said,"I will teach you Alex said that he would teach
would)' reported speech" me reported speech.
Future Continuous (will be Alex said, "I will be teaching Alex said that he would be
into would be) you reported speech" teaching me reported speech.
Future Perfect Tense (Will Alex said, "I will have written Alex said that he would have
have into would have) a letter" written a letter.

Rules for Change in Time and Adverb in Indirect Speech

There are some rules for changing the words showing time and place in direct speech into
indirect speech. Study below the table showing the words of time and adverb, how they are
changed in indirect speech.

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 Direct Speech Word Indirect Speech Word
Today That day
Yesterday The day before
Tomorrow The next day
Now Then
Ago Before
Here There
This That
Next week The following week
Next month The following month
Thus So
Last night The night before
Hither Thither
Hence Thence
Come Go

Now study the examples below, how to change the words expressing time and place from
direct speech into indirect speech.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said, "I am waiting here for you" He said that he was waiting there for me.
She said, "We will come tomorrow" She said that she would come the next day.
They said, "It is hot today" They said that it was hot that day.
I said, "I found a purse yesterday" I said that I found a purse a day before.

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 Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Alex said, "It is good time now to see
Alex said that it was good time then to see him.
him"

Edit

Change in Modal Verbs

Here are some Indirect speech rules for modal verbs.

Modal verbs are changed in indirect speech like, Can into Could, May into Might, Must into
had to. However, some Modals like, Would, could, might, should, ought to, are not changed
in indirect speech.
Study the following example below for change in modal verbs in indirect speech

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Alex said, "I can swim" Alex said that he could swim.
He said, "It may rain today" He said that it might rain that day.
She said, "I must run fast" She said that she had to run fast.
They said, "They would speak English" They said that they would speak English.
He said, "It might cost me more money" He said that it might cost him more money.

Edit

Indirect speech for Imperative Sentences

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Imperative sentences consists of command, request, order, suggestion or advice. Therefore, to
change imperative sentences from direct into indirect speech following points should be
noted.

1. understand the mood of sentence if it is command, request, advice or suggestion.

2. Use appropriate joining clauses as per the mood of sentence.
3. Follow the other rules of reported speech.

Now study the examples below.

Direct Speech Mood of Sentence Indirect Speech

Alex said, "please come here" Request Alex requested to come there.
Mark said to him, "Do not take Mark advised students not to take
Advice
this exercise easy" that exercise easy.
Dentist said to Alex, "Stay away The dentist advised Alex to stay
Advice/Suggestion
from smoking" away from Smoking.
He said to the guard, "open the
Oder He ordered guard to open the door.
door"
He said, "Lets wait for Alex here" Suggestion He suggested to wait for Alex there.

Indirect Speech for Exclamatory Sentences

Exclamatory sentences express the state of grief, wonder or happiness. Following are the
point to keep in mind before changing exclamatory sentences from direct speech into indirect
speech.

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1. Understand the mood of sentences.
2. Use appropriate joining clause for exclamatory sentence.
3. Follow the other rules of direct and indirect speech.

Study the examples below.

Mood of
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Sentence
Alex said, "Hurrah! I have solved Alex expressed with joy that he had
Joy
reported speech pdf assignment" solved reported speech pdf assignment.
Alex said, "Alas! I have failed the Alex expressed with sorrow that he had
Sorrow
exam" failed the exam.
Alex expressed with wonder that it was
Alex said, "How cool the weather is!" Wonder
the cool weather.
She said, "Vow! what a good watch it She exclaimed with wonder that it was a
Wonder
is" good watch.

Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences

Following are the basic rules of direct and indirect speech for interrogative sentences or
question sentences.

1. Punctuation marks (comma, inverted comma, question marks ) are removed.

2. Conjunction “that” is omitted.
3. Interrogative form is changed into assertive form of sentence.
4. ‘Said’ is changed into asked or inquired.

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5. Use of ‘If’ or ‘Whether’ is made For the interrogative sentences that cant be answered
simply in Yes or No.

Now study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He asked me whether I would be there the next
He said to me, "Will you be here tomorrow?"
day.
Mother said to son, "Do you think to disobey
Mother asked son if he thought to disobey her.
me?"
Teacher said, "Do you know the exact Teacher asked students whether they knew the
answer?" exact answer.
She said to me, "What is the name of great She asked me what was the name of great
Mughal King?" Mughal King.
They said, "What is the schedule of They asked what was the schedule of
examination?" examination.
He said to me, "Have you been to Turkey?" He asked me if I had been to Turkey.

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Direct and Indirect Speech Rules PDF

Table of Contents

 Identify Reported Speech and Reported Speech

 Direct and Indirect Speech Punctuation Rules
 Use of Conjunction “that”
 Rules for Changing Pronouns in Indirect Speech
 Indirect Speech Rules for All Tenses
 Rules for Change in Time and Adverb in Indirect Speech
 Change in Modal Verbs
 Indirect speech for Imperative Sentences
 Indirect Speech for Exclamatory Sentences
 Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences
 Related Posts:

Identify Reported Speech and Reported Speech

Before you move further, you must know the parts of direct speech. A direct speech sentence
consist of two parts. The part that is inside the quotation marks, is called reported speech. The
other one that is out of quoted marks, is called reporting speech. Hence, direct speech
sentence has two parts; reporting verb and reported verb. Look at the examples below and
separate reporting speech and reported speech

Reporting
Direct Speech Sentence Reported Speech
Speech
He said, " I am looking for reported I am looking for reported speech
He said,
speech definition" definition"

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 Reporting
Direct Speech Sentence Reported Speech
Speech
She said, "I teach direct and indirect "I teach direct and indirect
She said,
speech" speech"
"Alex says, "I am happy to see you" Alex says, "I am happy to see you"
Mark said, "I will write a letter to the "I will write a letter to the
Mark said,
manager" manager"

Direct and Indirect Speech Punctuation Rules

Following punctuation rules in reported speech are applied

 Inverted comma are excluded

 Question mark is converted into full stop
 Exclamation mark is silenced
 Comma, in some cases, is used

Study the examples below

Punctuation
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
omitted
Alex said, " I am quite good here" Alex said that he was quite good there Quotation marks
Mark said, "How old your puppy
Mark asked how old my puppy was Question mark
is?
Alex exclaimed with joy that it was a Sign of
Alex said, "Hurrah! such a cool day
cold day Exclamation

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 Punctuation
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
omitted
Alex said, " I, who am the winner, Alex said, he, who was the winner,
Comma retained
shall appear tomorrow would appear the next day

Use of Conjunction “that”

Conjunction “that” is placed between reported and reporting speech, however, in question
sentences, it is replaced with ‘asked, inquired, etc,

Study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Alex said, "It is quite good to make reported Alex said that it was quite good to make
speech pdf assignment" reported speech pdf assignment
Alex said, "Is it easy to make reported speech Alex asked if it was easy to make reported
chart"? speech chart
Mark said, "What is main point to remember Marx asked what was main point to remember
in narration? in narration.
Alex said to me, " Are you ready for reported Alex asked me whether I was ready for
speech exercise'? reported speech exercise

Rules for Changing Pronouns in Indirect Speech

Change of pronoun in indirect speech is done with following basic rules.

Rule No: 1

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First Person

If the reporting speech has first person pronoun, it will be changed as per the pronoun the
pronoun of reported speech, if it is third person pronoun. But if first person pronoun is used
both in reporting speech and reported speech, No pronoun is changed here.

Study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

She said, " I am quite fine here" She said that she was quite fine there
He said, " I write everyday" He said that he wrote everyday
They said, " We have made good progress" They said that had made good progress
She said, " My job is writing a letter" She said that her job was writing a letter
They said, " we have good friends" They said that they had good friends
I said, " I am making practice of reported I said that I was making practice of reported
speech" speech
We said, " We are learning English" We said that we were learning English

Rule No: 2

Second Person:
If the reported speech has second person (you, yours,etc), it is changed as per the object of
reporting speech.

Study the examples below

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 Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said to her, " You are an intelligent girl" He said to her that she was an intelligent girl
She said to him, " You are not real" She said to him that he was not real
He said to me," You are a clever guy" He said to me that I was a clever guy
She said to Alex, " You are cool guy" She said to Alex that he was a cool guy

Rule No: 3

Third Person

Third Person in reported speech is not changed in indirect speech

Study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He said, "They prefer singing" He said that they preferred singing
They said, "It is hard to bear cold" They said that it was hard to bear cold
Alex said, "He likes chocolate" Alex said that he liked chocolate
They said, "She is waiting for Alex" They said that she was waiting for Alex

Indirect Speech Rules for All Tenses

Read below the complete rules how to make indirect speech of present tense, past tense and
future tense.

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 Tense Change Rules Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Present Simple into Alex said, "I always wait for Alex said that he always waited
Past Simple Tense Mark here for Mark there.
Present Continuous Alex said, "I am waiting for Alex said that he was waiting
into Past Continuous Mark" for Mark
Present Perfect into Alex said, "I have completed Alex said that he had completed
Past Perfect my essay" his essay.
Present Perfect
Alex said, "I have been Alex said that he had been
Continuous into Past Perfect
waiting for Mark" waiting for Mark.
Continuous
Simple past into Past Perfect Alex said,"Mark received a Alex said that Mark had
Tense letter" received a letter.
Past Perfect into Past Perfect Alex said, "I had listened to Alex said that had listened to
Tense your questions" my questions.
Future simple tense (will into Alex said,"I will teach you Alex said that he would teach
would)' reported speech" me reported speech.
Future Continuous (will be Alex said, "I will be teaching Alex said that he would be
into would be) you reported speech" teaching me reported speech.
Future Perfect Tense (Will Alex said, "I will have written Alex said that he would have
have into would have) a letter" written a letter.

Rules for Change in Time and Adverb in Indirect Speech

There are some rules for changing the words showing time and place in direct speech into
indirect speech. Study below the table showing the words of time and adverb, how they are
changed in indirect speech.

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 Direct Speech Word Indirect Speech Word
Today That day
Yesterday The day before
Tomorrow The next day
Now Then
Ago Before
Here There
This That
Next week The following week
Next month The following month
Thus So
Last night The night before
Hither Thither
Hence Thence
Come Go

Now study the examples below, how to change the words expressing time and place from
direct speech into indirect speech.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
He said, "I am waiting here for you" He said that he was waiting there for me.
She said, "We will come tomorrow" She said that she would come the next day.
They said, "It is hot today" They said that it was hot that day.
I said, "I found a purse yesterday" I said that I found a purse a day before.

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 Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Alex said, "It is good time now to see
Alex said that it was good time then to see him.
him"

Edit

Change in Modal Verbs

Here are some Indirect speech rules for modal verbs.

Modal verbs are changed in indirect speech like, Can into Could, May into Might, Must into
had to. However, some Modals like, Would, could, might, should, ought to, are not changed
in indirect speech.
Study the following example below for change in modal verbs in indirect speech

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Alex said, "I can swim" Alex said that he could swim.
He said, "It may rain today" He said that it might rain that day.
She said, "I must run fast" She said that she had to run fast.
They said, "They would speak English" They said that they would speak English.
He said, "It might cost me more money" He said that it might cost him more money.

Edit

Indirect speech for Imperative Sentences

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Imperative sentences consists of command, request, order, suggestion or advice. Therefore, to
change imperative sentences from direct into indirect speech following points should be
noted.

1. understand the mood of sentence if it is command, request, advice or suggestion.

2. Use appropriate joining clauses as per the mood of sentence.
3. Follow the other rules of reported speech.

Now study the examples below.

Direct Speech Mood of Sentence Indirect Speech

Alex said, "please come here" Request Alex requested to come there.
Mark said to him, "Do not take Mark advised students not to take
Advice
this exercise easy" that exercise easy.
Dentist said to Alex, "Stay away The dentist advised Alex to stay
Advice/Suggestion
from smoking" away from Smoking.
He said to the guard, "open the
Oder He ordered guard to open the door.
door"
He said, "Lets wait for Alex here" Suggestion He suggested to wait for Alex there.

Indirect Speech for Exclamatory Sentences

Exclamatory sentences express the state of grief, wonder or happiness. Following are the
point to keep in mind before changing exclamatory sentences from direct speech into indirect
speech.

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1. Understand the mood of sentences.
2. Use appropriate joining clause for exclamatory sentence.
3. Follow the other rules of direct and indirect speech.

Study the examples below.

Mood of
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Sentence
Alex said, "Hurrah! I have solved Alex expressed with joy that he had
Joy
reported speech pdf assignment" solved reported speech pdf assignment.
Alex said, "Alas! I have failed the Alex expressed with sorrow that he had
Sorrow
exam" failed the exam.
Alex expressed with wonder that it was
Alex said, "How cool the weather is!" Wonder
the cool weather.
She said, "Vow! what a good watch it She exclaimed with wonder that it was a
Wonder
is" good watch.

Indirect Speech of Interrogative Sentences

Following are the basic rules of direct and indirect speech for interrogative sentences or
question sentences.

1. Punctuation marks (comma, inverted comma, question marks ) are removed.

2. Conjunction “that” is omitted.
3. Interrogative form is changed into assertive form of sentence.
4. ‘Said’ is changed into asked or inquired.

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5. Use of ‘If’ or ‘Whether’ is made For the interrogative sentences that cant be answered
simply in Yes or No.

Now study the examples below

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He asked me whether I would be there the next
He said to me, "Will you be here tomorrow?"
day.
Mother said to son, "Do you think to disobey
Mother asked son if he thought to disobey her.
me?"
Teacher said, "Do you know the exact Teacher asked students whether they knew the
answer?" exact answer.
She said to me, "What is the name of great She asked me what was the name of great
Mughal King?" Mughal King.
They said, "What is the schedule of They asked what was the schedule of
examination?" examination.
He said to me, "Have you been to Turkey?" He asked me if I had been to Turkey.

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e-grammar.org

Reported speech | Exercises - Test 1

Petr Kulaty

2 minutes

"It is too late." - I said it too late.

"I have replied." - He claimed that .

"I met you yesterday." - Sam told me he had met me .

"I cannot come." - Mary explained that .

"I could fall down." - He was afraid down.

"I will pay tomorrow." - He said he would pay .

"The Himalayas are the highest." - He knew that the

Himalayas the highest.

"I may lend you some money." - Bill promised some

money.

"I have been watching a film." - He replied that a film.

"Claire must rest." - The doctor said Claire .

"I have not done it today." - I explained that I had not done
it .

"If I was younger, I would accept it." - He thought that if

younger, he would accept it.
"I was with him last week." - Jill admitted that with him
the previous week.

"You needn't change your shoes in our house." - She

reminded me that I my shoes in their house.

"I am calling my mum." - She said she her mum.

"I will finish this picture tomorrow." - Diana supposed that

she would finish picture the next day.

"I would buy it." - She said it.

"Greg used to be my friend." - He told us Greg his friend.

For intermediate and advanced learners of English.

 Reported speech
https://www.e-grammar.org/reported-speech/

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences in the reported speech.

Example: I admire you. - She said she admired me.

"It is too late." - I said it ............. too late.

"I have replied." - He claimed that ........................................... .

"I met you yesterday." - Sam told me he had met me .................................................. .

"I cannot come." - Mary explained that ............................................... .

"I could fall down." - He was afraid ............................. down.

"I will pay tomorrow." - He said he would pay ............................................. .

"The Himalayas are the highest." - He knew that the Himalayas ................ the highest.

"I may lend you some money." - Bill promised .................................................... some money.

"I have been watching a film." - He replied that .............................................................. a film.

"Claire must rest." - The doctor said Claire ................................. .

"I have not done it today." - I explained that I had not done it ............................. .

"If I was younger, I would accept it." - He thought that if ................... younger, he would accept it.

"I was with him last week." - Jill admitted that ................................ with him the previous week.

"You needn't change your shoes in our house." - She reminded me that I ............................................
my shoes in their house.

"I am calling my mum." - She said she .............................. her mum.

"I will finish this picture tomorrow." - Jill supposed that she would finish ............. picture the next day.

"I would buy it." - She said ........................................ it.

"Greg used to be my friend." - He told us Greg ............................... his friend.

See the Answer Key on the next page.

English grammar exercises on www.e-grammar.org

 Reported speech
https://www.e-grammar.org/reported-speech/

Key with answers

Exercise 1

I said it was too late.

He claimed that he had replied.

Sam told me he had met me the day before | the previous day.

Mary explained that she could not come.

He was afraid he could fall down.

He said he would pay the next day | the following day.

He knew that the Himalayas are | were the highest.

Bill promised he might lend me some money.

He replied that he had been watching a film.

The doctor said Claire must rest | had to rest.

I explained that I had not done it that day .

He thought that if he was younger, he would accept it.

Jill admitted that she had been with him the previous week.

She reminded me that I needn't change | didn't have to change my shoes in their house.

She said she was calling her mum.

Jill supposed that she would finish that picture the next day.

She said she would buy it.

He told us Greg used to be his friend.

English grammar exercises on www.e-grammar.org

e-grammar.org

Direct and indirect speech | Grammar +

Exercises | PDF
Petr Kulaty

9-12 minutes

If we want to say what other people said, thought or felt,

we can use the direct or indirect speech.
The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he
thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped.
The indirect speech: He said he liked it. He thought that
Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the exam.
The indirect speech is typically introduced by verbs such
as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think,
hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense.
He said (that) he didn't want it.
She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the

following:
a) verb tenses and verb forms
b) pronouns
c) the adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

Present - past
"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she
never understood me.
 "We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained
that they were doing exercises.
Present perfect - past perfect
"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted
that he had broken the window.
"I have been waiting since the morning," he
complained. - He complained that he had been waiting
since the morning.
Past - past perfect
"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had
gone to Rome.
"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She
said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
Will - conditional
Will changes into the conditional.
I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded
me that he would come on Sunday.

As you can see, both the past tense and the present
perfect change into the past perfect.

Notes
1. I shall, we shall usually become would.
"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would
appreciate it.
2. I should, we should usually change into would.
"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they
would be really glad.
3. May becomes might.
"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she
might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same in the following cases:

If we use the past perfect tense.
Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had
never seen him.
If the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying
his holiday.
Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will
never go to work.
When we report something that is still true.
Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is
the largest continent.
Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said
people in Africa are starving.
When a sentence is made and reported at the same
time and the fact is still true.
Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought
to, used to.
George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.
Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.
Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.
Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he
should/ought to stay in bed.
Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a
car.
After wish, would rather, had better, it is time.
Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she
wished they were in Greece.
Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.
Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better
go.
Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got
up.
In if-clauses.
Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." -
Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would
be happy.
In time clauses.
Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best
friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid
he met his best friend.
We do not change the past tense in spoken English if
it is clear from the situation when the action
happened.
"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on
Sunday.
We must change it, however, in the following
sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we
are talking about the present or past feelings.
"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
We do not usually change the modal verbs must and
needn't. But must can become had to or would have to
and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't
have to if we want to express an obligation.
Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future
obligations.
"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to
wash up.
"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't
be/didn't have to be at school that day.
"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to
do it in June.
If the modal verb must does not express obligation,
we do not change it.
 "We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they
must relax for a while.
"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He
said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same

meaning of a sentence.
"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the
best students.
"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.
"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.
"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me
his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun,

otherwise the new sentence is confusing.
"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had
killed them.
If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had
killed them), the new sentence can have a different
meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted.

"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would
finish it that year.
"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had
brought me the book.
"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they
wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on

Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday." It means
that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's
sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following:
Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had
come the day before.
If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not
correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows.

now - then, today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the
following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time,
yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two
days before, next week/month - the following
week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month,
a year ago - a year before/the previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave
the next day.
Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived
the previous week.
Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a
year before.

Note
If something is said and reported at the same time, the
time expressions can remain the same.
"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told
me today he would go on holiday tomorrow.
"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. -
She told me this week they had painted the hall last
weekend.
On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time
expressions are different in the indirect speech.
Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week."
If we say his sentence a week later, we will say:
Jim said he was playing this week.
Here usually becomes there. But sometimes we make
different adjustments.
At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he
would be there at 10 o'clock.
In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would
meet in Baker Street.

Reported questions

Direct questions become reported questions with the

same word order as statements. The reporting verb say
changes into ask, want to know, wonder...
"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I
had been.
"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what
time it had started.
"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he
wouldn't do it.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If
is more common and whether is more formal.
"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether
I would come.
"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether
he had married Sue.

Reported commands, requests and advice

The commands, requests and advice mostly have the

same form in English: verb + object + infinitive (advise,
ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge,
warn etc.).
In the direct speech we do not mention the person in the
imperative. In the indirect speech the person addressed
must be mentioned.
"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.
"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to
revise for the test.
"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.
Negative commands, requests and advice are made by
verb + object + not + infinitive.
"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to
hesitate.
"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor
warned my father not to smoke.

Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or

advice. The form is different, however.

Statements with tell

"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.

Commands, requests or advice with tell

"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the
room.
"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher
told the students not to give up.

Similarly ask is used in reported questions, commands,

requests or advice in different forms.

Questions with ask

"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would
make coffee.

Commands, requests or advice with ask

"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make
coffee.
"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not
to park in his place.
e-grammar.org

Reported speech | Exercises - Test 1

Petr Kulaty

2 minutes

"It is too late." - I said it too late.

"I have replied." - He claimed that .

"I met you yesterday." - Sam told me he had met me .

"I cannot come." - Mary explained that .

"I could fall down." - He was afraid down.

"I will pay tomorrow." - He said he would pay .

"The Himalayas are the highest." - He knew that the

Himalayas the highest.

"I may lend you some money." - Bill promised some

money.

"I have been watching a film." - He replied that a film.

"Claire must rest." - The doctor said Claire .

"I have not done it today." - I explained that I had not done
it .

"If I was younger, I would accept it." - He thought that if

younger, he would accept it.
"I was with him last week." - Jill admitted that with him
the previous week.

"You needn't change your shoes in our house." - She

reminded me that I my shoes in their house.

"I am calling my mum." - She said she her mum.

"I will finish this picture tomorrow." - Diana supposed that

she would finish picture the next day.

"I would buy it." - She said it.

"Greg used to be my friend." - He told us Greg his friend.

For intermediate and advanced learners of English.

 Reported speech
https://www.e-grammar.org/reported-speech/

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences in the reported speech.

Example: I admire you. - She said she admired me.

"It is too late." - I said it ............. too late.

"I have replied." - He claimed that ........................................... .

"I met you yesterday." - Sam told me he had met me .................................................. .

"I cannot come." - Mary explained that ............................................... .

"I could fall down." - He was afraid ............................. down.

"I will pay tomorrow." - He said he would pay ............................................. .

"The Himalayas are the highest." - He knew that the Himalayas ................ the highest.

"I may lend you some money." - Bill promised .................................................... some money.

"I have been watching a film." - He replied that .............................................................. a film.

"Claire must rest." - The doctor said Claire ................................. .

"I have not done it today." - I explained that I had not done it ............................. .

"If I was younger, I would accept it." - He thought that if ................... younger, he would accept it.

"I was with him last week." - Jill admitted that ................................ with him the previous week.

"You needn't change your shoes in our house." - She reminded me that I ............................................
my shoes in their house.

"I am calling my mum." - She said she .............................. her mum.

"I will finish this picture tomorrow." - Jill supposed that she would finish ............. picture the next day.

"I would buy it." - She said ........................................ it.

"Greg used to be my friend." - He told us Greg ............................... his friend.

See the Answer Key on the next page.

English grammar exercises on www.e-grammar.org

 Reported speech
https://www.e-grammar.org/reported-speech/

Key with answers

Exercise 1

I said it was too late.

He claimed that he had replied.

Sam told me he had met me the day before | the previous day.

Mary explained that she could not come.

He was afraid he could fall down.

He said he would pay the next day | the following day.

He knew that the Himalayas are | were the highest.

Bill promised he might lend me some money.

He replied that he had been watching a film.

The doctor said Claire must rest | had to rest.

I explained that I had not done it that day .

He thought that if he was younger, he would accept it.

Jill admitted that she had been with him the previous week.

She reminded me that I needn't change | didn't have to change my shoes in their house.

She said she was calling her mum.

Jill supposed that she would finish that picture the next day.

She said she would buy it.

He told us Greg used to be his friend.

English grammar exercises on www.e-grammar.org

e-grammar.org

Direct and indirect speech | Grammar +

Exercises | PDF
Petr Kulaty

9-12 minutes

If we want to say what other people said, thought or felt,

we can use the direct or indirect speech.
The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he
thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped.
The indirect speech: He said he liked it. He thought that
Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the exam.
The indirect speech is typically introduced by verbs such
as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think,
hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense.
He said (that) he didn't want it.
She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the

following:
a) verb tenses and verb forms
b) pronouns
c) the adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

Present - past
"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she
never understood me.
 "We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained
that they were doing exercises.
Present perfect - past perfect
"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted
that he had broken the window.
"I have been waiting since the morning," he
complained. - He complained that he had been waiting
since the morning.
Past - past perfect
"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had
gone to Rome.
"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She
said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
Will - conditional
Will changes into the conditional.
I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded
me that he would come on Sunday.

As you can see, both the past tense and the present
perfect change into the past perfect.

Notes
1. I shall, we shall usually become would.
"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would
appreciate it.
2. I should, we should usually change into would.
"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they
would be really glad.
3. May becomes might.
"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she
might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same in the following cases:

If we use the past perfect tense.
Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had
never seen him.
If the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying
his holiday.
Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will
never go to work.
When we report something that is still true.
Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is
the largest continent.
Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said
people in Africa are starving.
When a sentence is made and reported at the same
time and the fact is still true.
Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought
to, used to.
George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.
Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.
Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.
Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he
should/ought to stay in bed.
Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a
car.
After wish, would rather, had better, it is time.
Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she
wished they were in Greece.
Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.
Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better
go.
Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got
up.
In if-clauses.
Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." -
Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would
be happy.
In time clauses.
Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best
friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid
he met his best friend.
We do not change the past tense in spoken English if
it is clear from the situation when the action
happened.
"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on
Sunday.
We must change it, however, in the following
sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we
are talking about the present or past feelings.
"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
We do not usually change the modal verbs must and
needn't. But must can become had to or would have to
and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't
have to if we want to express an obligation.
Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future
obligations.
"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to
wash up.
"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't
be/didn't have to be at school that day.
"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to
do it in June.
If the modal verb must does not express obligation,
we do not change it.
 "We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they
must relax for a while.
"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He
said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same

meaning of a sentence.
"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the
best students.
"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.
"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.
"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me
his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun,

otherwise the new sentence is confusing.
"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had
killed them.
If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had
killed them), the new sentence can have a different
meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted.

"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would
finish it that year.
"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had
brought me the book.
"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they
wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on

Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday." It means
that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's
sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following:
Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had
come the day before.
If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not
correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows.

now - then, today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the
following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time,
yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two
days before, next week/month - the following
week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month,
a year ago - a year before/the previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave
the next day.
Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived
the previous week.
Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a
year before.

Note
If something is said and reported at the same time, the
time expressions can remain the same.
"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told
me today he would go on holiday tomorrow.
"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. -
She told me this week they had painted the hall last
weekend.
On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time
expressions are different in the indirect speech.
Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week."
If we say his sentence a week later, we will say:
Jim said he was playing this week.
Here usually becomes there. But sometimes we make
different adjustments.
At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he
would be there at 10 o'clock.
In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would
meet in Baker Street.

Reported questions

Direct questions become reported questions with the

same word order as statements. The reporting verb say
changes into ask, want to know, wonder...
"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I
had been.
"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what
time it had started.
"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he
wouldn't do it.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If
is more common and whether is more formal.
"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether
I would come.
"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether
he had married Sue.

Reported commands, requests and advice

The commands, requests and advice mostly have the

same form in English: verb + object + infinitive (advise,
ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge,
warn etc.).
In the direct speech we do not mention the person in the
imperative. In the indirect speech the person addressed
must be mentioned.
"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.
"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to
revise for the test.
"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.
Negative commands, requests and advice are made by
verb + object + not + infinitive.
"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to
hesitate.
"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor
warned my father not to smoke.

Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or

advice. The form is different, however.

Statements with tell

"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.

Commands, requests or advice with tell

"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the
room.
"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher
told the students not to give up.

Similarly ask is used in reported questions, commands,

requests or advice in different forms.

Questions with ask

"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would
make coffee.

Commands, requests or advice with ask

"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make
coffee.
"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not
to park in his place.
e-grammar.org

Direct and indirect speech | Grammar +

Exercises | PDF
Petr Kulaty

9-12 minutes

If we want to say what other people said, thought or felt,

we can use the direct or indirect speech.
The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he
thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped.
The indirect speech: He said he liked it. He thought that
Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the exam.
The indirect speech is typically introduced by verbs such
as say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think,
hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense.
He said (that) he didn't want it.
She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the

following:
a) verb tenses and verb forms
b) pronouns
c) the adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

Present - past
"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she
never understood me.
 "We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained
that they were doing exercises.
Present perfect - past perfect
"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted
that he had broken the window.
"I have been waiting since the morning," he
complained. - He complained that he had been waiting
since the morning.
Past - past perfect
"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had
gone to Rome.
"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She
said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
Will - conditional
Will changes into the conditional.
I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded
me that he would come on Sunday.

As you can see, both the past tense and the present
perfect change into the past perfect.

Notes
1. I shall, we shall usually become would.
"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would
appreciate it.
2. I should, we should usually change into would.
"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they
would be really glad.
3. May becomes might.
"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she
might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same in the following cases:

If we use the past perfect tense.
Eva: "I had never seen him." - Eva claimed that she had
never seen him.
If the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying
his holiday.
Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will
never go to work.
When we report something that is still true.
Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is
the largest continent.
Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said
people in Africa are starving.
When a sentence is made and reported at the same
time and the fact is still true.
Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought
to, used to.
George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.
Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.
Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.
Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he
should/ought to stay in bed.
Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a
car.
After wish, would rather, had better, it is time.
Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she
wished they were in Greece.
Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.
Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better
go.
Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got
up.
In if-clauses.
Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." -
Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad would
be happy.
In time clauses.
Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best
friend." - He said that when he was staying in Madrid
he met his best friend.
We do not change the past tense in spoken English if
it is clear from the situation when the action
happened.
"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on
Sunday.
We must change it, however, in the following
sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether we
are talking about the present or past feelings.
"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
We do not usually change the modal verbs must and
needn't. But must can become had to or would have to
and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't
have to if we want to express an obligation.
Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future
obligations.
"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to
wash up.
"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't
be/didn't have to be at school that day.
"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to
do it in June.
If the modal verb must does not express obligation,
we do not change it.
 "We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they
must relax for a while.
"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He
said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same

meaning of a sentence.
"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the
best students.
"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.
"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.
"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me
his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun,

otherwise the new sentence is confusing.
"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had
killed them.
If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had
killed them), the new sentence can have a different
meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted.

"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would
finish it that year.
"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had
brought me the book.
"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they
wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on

Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday." It means
that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's
sentence on Sunday, we have to do the following:
Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had
come the day before.
If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not
correct, because it means that he came on Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows.

now - then, today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the
following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time,
yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two
days before, next week/month - the following
week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month,
a year ago - a year before/the previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave
the next day.
Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived
the previous week.
Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a
year before.

Note
If something is said and reported at the same time, the
time expressions can remain the same.
"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told
me today he would go on holiday tomorrow.
"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. -
She told me this week they had painted the hall last
weekend.
On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time
expressions are different in the indirect speech.
Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week."
If we say his sentence a week later, we will say:
Jim said he was playing this week.
Here usually becomes there. But sometimes we make
different adjustments.
At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he
would be there at 10 o'clock.
In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would
meet in Baker Street.

Reported questions

Direct questions become reported questions with the

same word order as statements. The reporting verb say
changes into ask, want to know, wonder...
"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I
had been.
"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what
time it had started.
"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he
wouldn't do it.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If
is more common and whether is more formal.
"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether
I would come.
"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether
he had married Sue.

Reported commands, requests and advice

The commands, requests and advice mostly have the

same form in English: verb + object + infinitive (advise,
ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge,
warn etc.).
In the direct speech we do not mention the person in the
imperative. In the indirect speech the person addressed
must be mentioned.
"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.
"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to
revise for the test.
"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.
Negative commands, requests and advice are made by
verb + object + not + infinitive.
"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to
hesitate.
"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor
warned my father not to smoke.

Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or

advice. The form is different, however.

Statements with tell

"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.

Commands, requests or advice with tell

"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the
room.
"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher
told the students not to give up.

Similarly ask is used in reported questions, commands,

requests or advice in different forms.

Questions with ask

"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would
make coffee.

Commands, requests or advice with ask

"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make
coffee.
"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not
to park in his place.