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Grammar, compared

Direct vs reported speech

To report what someone said, most tenses move one step back. Pronouns and time words change too.

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The short answer

Direct / Reported
DirectReported
"I am tired," she said.She said she was tired.
"I will call you," he said.He said he would call me.
"I have finished," she said.She said she had finished.

What changes

Direct and reported speech
DirectReported
Present simple: I workPast simple: she said she worked
Present continuous: I am workingPast continuous: she said she was working
Past simple: I workedPast perfect: she said she had worked
Present perfect: I have workedPast perfect: she said she had worked
will, canwould, could
today, tomorrow, here, nowthat day, the next day, there, then

A reported question uses statement order and no question mark: She asked where I lived. A yes or no question uses if or whether.

Watch out if you speak Spanish

  • Keep statement order in a reported question: She asked where I lived, not where did I live.
  • Yes or no questions need if: He asked if I liked coffee.
  • Tell needs a person, say does not: He told me that, he said that.
  • If the fact is still true, you may keep the tense: She said she lives here. The step back is the safe standard.

Practice

Grammar practice

Choose or type the answer for each sentence, then check.

  1. 1. "I am tired," she said. She said she tired.
  2. 2. "I will call you," he said. He said he call me.
  3. 3. "I have finished," she said. She said she finished.
  4. 4. "Where do you live?" She asked me where I .
  5. 5. "Do you like coffee?" He asked me I liked coffee.
  6. 6. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said. She said she would see me .

  7. 7. "I can swim," he said. He said he

    swim.

  8. 8. "I live in Rosario," he said. He said he

    in Rosario.live

0 of 8 checked

Questions

Do I always change the tense?
No. If the fact is still true or you report it soon after, you can keep the tense. The step back is the standard and always safe.
What is the difference between said and told here?
He said that he was late. He told me that he was late. Tell needs a person.

Keep going

Want to practise this with Pili?

Book a trial class. She writes back with times in Buenos Aires time.

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