Rules for indirect speech, what are they and how to use them?
I study English and I have much trouble with Direct Speech and Indirect Speech, because the sentence begins in the past and ends in the past or begins in the past and there is something holding it in the future. It's very confusing. I do not know when I have simple past and have to go to past perfect and etc.

Does anyone have any tips?

Question

Rules for indirect speech, what are they and how to use them?
I study English and I have much trouble with Direct Speech and Indirect Speech, because the sentence begins in the past and ends in the past or begins in the past and there is something holding it in the future. It's very confusing. I do not know when I have simple past and have to go to past perfect and etc.

Does anyone have any tips?

Answer

The simple rule is that when you change something from direct to indirect speech you need to take it one step back into the past.

So, for example, present simple goes to past simple.

'I'm tired' ----> She said that she was tired.

Present continuous  goes to past continuous.

'We are leaving' -----> They said that they were leaving.

Present perfect goes to past perfect.

'I have finished' -----> He said that he had finished.

Past simple also goes to past perfect.

'She wrote it' -----> They said that she had written it.

Modal verbs that have past forms go from present to past also.

'They will come.' ------> He said that they would come.

And so on. I hope that helps.

Answers · 2

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!