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When we talk about what someone said (Direct speech) in the past, we use reported (or indirect) speech.
An example of reported speech is:
Three friends, John, Sue and Randy, are in a noisy bar. John says: “I’m tired” but Randy doesn’t hear. Sue tells him: He said he was tired.
When Sue says: He said he was tired, she is reporting what John said. This is reported speech.
When we report what someone said, we are talking about the past and so we move back one tense. Look at the example from above again:
Direct Speech: I’m tired. (Present simple)
Reported Speech: He said he was tired. (Past Simple)
The table below shows the main tense shifts.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|
It’s cold. Present simple |
He said it was cold. Past Simple |
|
It was cold. Past Simple |
He said it had been cold. Past Perfect Simple |
|
It has been cold. Present Perfect Simple |
He said it had been cold. Past Perfect Simple |
|
It had been cold. Past Perfect Simple |
No Change. |
|
He is waiting. Present Continuous |
He said he was waiting. Past Continuous |
|
He was waiting. Past Continuous |
He said he had been waiting. Past Perfect Continuous |
|
He has been waiting. Present Perfect Continuous |
He said he had been waiting. Past Perfect Continuous |
|
He had been waiting. Past Perfect Continuous |
No Change. |
The form of some modal verbs also changes.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
| I’ll go shopping tomorrow. | She said she would Go shopping tomorrow. |
| I can help. | She said she could help. |
| I must go. | She said she had to go. |
| Shall we go out? | She asked if we should go out. |
| I may come, | She said she might come. |
The form of could, would, should, might and ought to does not change.
There are some exceptions to this rule.
We can use the present tense when:
1. Something is still or always true
She said she is 25. OR She said she was 25. Both are acceptable.
2. You talk about a future event.
She said tomorrow’s meeting is at 9. OR She said tomorrow’s meeting would be at 9.
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