reported speech
Reported speech is when we tell someone what another person said. To do this, we can use direct speech or indirect speech.
when we use roperted speech we often use a tense which is 'further back' in the past than the tense originally used
Pronouns also usually change in indirect speech.
This is called 'backshift'
When we backshift, present simple changes to past simple, present continuous changes to past continuous and present perfect changes to past perfect.
When we backshift, past simple usually changes to past perfect simple, and past continuous usually changes to past perfect continuous.
The past perfect doesn't change
'I enjoy working in my garden,' said Bob.
Bob said that he enjoyed working in his garden.
We also change demonstratives and adverbs of time and place if they are no longer accurate.
However, if you are the person or one of the people who spoke, then the pronouns don't change.
EXAMPLES
He said that was his house. [You are not currently in front of the house.]
He said this was his house. [You are currently in front of the house.]
This is my house.'
EXAMPLE
table
Tense/ Direct Speech/ Reported Speech
present simple I like ice cream She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present continuous I am living in London She said (that) she was living in London.
past simple I bought a car She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a car.
past continuous I was walking along the street She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
present perfect I haven't seen Julie She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
past perfect* I had taken English lessons before She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
will I'll see you later She said (that) she would see me later.
would* I would help, but..” She said (that) she would help but...
can I can speak perfect English She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
could* I could swim when I was four She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
shall I shall come later She said (that) she would come later.
should* I should call my mother She said (that) she should call her mother
might* I might be late She said (that) she might be late
must I must study at the weekend She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had to study at the weekend