Reported speech

In English we change the main verb in the sentence when we use reported speech (someone said something).

Example:

She says she likes olives …………………. She said that she liked olives.

List:

Present simple ………………………………………………………………..Past simple

She lives in Prague…………………………………………………She said she lived in Prague.

Present continuous……………………………………………………………….Past continuous

I’m working hard today……………………………………He said (that) he was working hard today.

Present perfect …………………………………………………………………Past perfect

I haven’t seen him for ages………………………..She said (that) she hadn’t seen him for ages.

Present perfect continuous…………………………………………Past perfect continuous

I’ve been living here for a while now…………He said he had been living here for a while now.

Past simple………………………………………………………………………Past perfect simple

We loved the show!………………………………….They said (that) they had loved the show.

Past perfect = no change

am going to ………………………………………………………………………was going to

I’m going to fly to Paris some time this year……………..He said he was going to fly to Paris…..

Will ………………………………………………………………….would

I’ll do it!……………………………………………………………..She said (that) she would do it.

Can ……………………………………………………………………………….could

I can be there at 5pm……………………………………………She said she could be there at 5pm.

May …………………………………………………………………..might

You may see the Lunar eclipse this month……………….You might see the Lunar eclipse….

Might = no change

must …………………………………………………………………..had to

You must do it now……………………………………………He said we had to do it now.

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