Rules for changing Direct Speech into Indirect

99. When the reporting or principal verb is in the Past Tense, all Present tenses of the

Direct are changed into the corresponding Past Tenses. Thus:-

(a) A simple present becomes a simple past.

Direct. -- He said, “I am unwell.”

Indirect. -- He said (that) he was unwell.

(b) A present continuous becomes a past continuous.

Direct. -- He said, “My master is writing letters.”

Indirect. -- He said (that) his master was writing letters.

(c) A present perfect becomes a past perfect.

Direct. -- He said, “I have passed the examination.”

Indirect. -- He said (that) he had passed the examination.

Note:- The shall of the Future Tense is changed into should. The will of the Future Tense

is changed into would or should. As a rule, the simple past in the Direct becomes the past

perfect in the Indirect.

Direct. -- He said, “The horse died in the night.”

Indirect. -- He said that the horse had died in the night.

99A. The tenses may not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal

truth. We can often choose whether to keep the original tenses or change them.

Direct. – “I know her address,” said Gopi.

Indirect. -- Gopi said he knows/knew her address.

Direct. -- The teacher said, “The earth goes round the sun.”

Indirect. -- The teacher said the earth goes/went round the sun.

Direct. – “German is easy to learn”, she said.

Indirect. -- She said German is/was easy to learn.

The past tense is often used when it is uncertain if the statement is true or when we are

reporting objectively.

100. If the reporting verb is in the Present Tense, the tenses of the Direct Speech do not

change. For example, we may rewrite the above examples, putting the reporting verb in

the Present Tense, thus:

He says he is unwell.

He has just said his master is writing letters.

He says he has passed the examination.

He says the horse died in the night.

101. The pronouns of the Direct Speech are changed, where necessary, so that their

relations with the reporter and his hearer, rather than with the original speaker, are

indicated. Observe the following examples :-

Direct. -- He said to me, “I don't believe you.”

Indirect. -- He said he didn't believe me.

Direct. -- She said to him, “I don't believe you.”

Indirect. -- She said she didn't believe him.

Direct. -- I said to him, “I don’t believe you.”

Indirect. -- I said I didn't believe him.

Direct. -- I said to you, “I don't believe you.”

Indirect. -- I said I didn't believe you.

102. Words expressing nearness in time or place are generally changed into words

expressing distance. Thus :-

now -- becomes -- then

here -- becomes -- there

ago -- becomes -- before

thus -- becomes -- so

today -- becomes -- that day

tomorrow -- becomes -- the next day

yesterday -- becomes -- the day before

last night -- becomes -- the night before

Direct. -- He says, “I am glad to be here this evening.”

Indirect. -- He says that he was glad to be there that evening.

The changes do not occur if the speech is reported during the same period or at the same

place ; e.g.,

Direct. -- He said, “I am glad to be here this evening.”

Indirect. -- He said that he was glad to be there that evening.

103. Similarly, this and these are changed to that and those unless the thing pointed out is

near at hand at the time of reporting the speech.