Mastering Reported Speech: Tense Shifts and Time Expressions

Reported Speech: Tense Shifts and Time Expressions

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

When converting direct speech to reported speech, it's crucial to adjust the verb tenses. Here's a breakdown of common tense shifts:

Present Simple to Past Simple

• Direct: I want to make a career developing software.
• Reported: Aron said that he wanted to make a career developing software.

Present Continuous to Past Continuous

• Direct: We are improving the design of our apps.
• Reported: He said that they were improving the design.

Past Simple to Past Perfect

• Direct: It took me seven months to learn how to do it.
• Reported: He said it had taken him seven months to learn.

Present Perfect to Past Perfect

• Direct: I have been interested in computers since I was young.
• Reported: He said he had been interested since he was young.

Will to Would

• Direct: I will need a new computer.
• Reported: He said he would need a new computer.

Is/Are Going To to Was/Were Going To

• Direct: We are going to develop new characters and levels.
• Reported: He said that they were going to develop new characters and levels.

Can to Could

• Direct: Do you think you can make a smartphone app?
• Reported: He said that he thought he could make a smartphone app.

Have To to Had To

• Direct: If the emergency services have to contact relatives, the app will help.
• Reported: He said that if the emergency services had to contact relatives, the app would help.

Time Expression Changes

Certain time expressions also change in reported speech:

• Today - That day
• Tomorrow - The day after/the following day
• Yesterday - The day before/the previous day
• Next week - The week after/the following week
• Last week - The week before/the previous week
• 12 years ago - 12 years before
• This year - That year

Questions in Reported Speech

When reporting questions, the word order changes, and the tense shifts apply as described above.

• Direct: What do you want to do in the future?
• Reported: They asked what I wanted to do in the future.
• Direct: Where are you a student?
• Reported: They asked me where I was studying.

Remember to adjust the tense back one step when converting direct speech to reported speech.

Software Tools

Cool Edit Pro

Cool Edit Pro is an audio application that allows you to record and edit audio samples and create your own tracks for free thanks to its tools and possibilities.

Filmora

Filmora is an all-in-one home video editing software with powerful functionality and a fully stacked set of features (multimedia, audio, transitions, titles, effects, elements).

Corel Draw

Launched in January 1989, Corel Draw is a computer application designed to meet multiple needs, such as drawing, page layout for printing, and web publishing, all included in the same program.