The verb usually changes:

 

backshift of tenses

from

to

Peter: "I work in the garden."

Peter said that he worked in the garden.

Peter: "I worked in the garden."

Peter said that he had worked in the garden.

Peter: "I have worked in the garden."

 

Peter: "I had worked in the garden."

Peter: "I will work in the garden."

Peter said that he would work in the garden.

Peter: "I can work in the garden."

Peter said that he could work in the garden.

Peter: "I may work in the garden."

Peter said that he might work in the garden.

Peter: "I would work in the garden."
(
could, might, should, ought to)

Peter: "I would work in the garden."
(
could, might, should, ought to)

progressive forms

Peter: "I'm working in the garden."

Peter said that he was working in the garden.

Peter: "I was working in the garden."

Peter said that he had been working in the garden.

Peter: "I have been working in the garden."

Peter: "I had been working in the garden."

 Common verbs used in reported speech are:

(add, admit, claim, declare, explain, indicate, mention, observe , state, reply, point out, boasted, invited, accused , complained, apologized, begged, advised, denied, offered, ordered, suggested.
)

Practice

1.   "I lost my bag yesterday," Peter said.

2.   "I have never been here before," she said.

3.   "I was very ill yesterday," Ann said.

4.   "I can't do it now, but I'll do it next week," Bob stated.

5.   "I can visit you tomorrow," Paul said.

6.   "I did my homework three days ago," the student told his teacher.

7.   "I'll go on vacation next week," Liz said.

8.   "No one fed the chickens last week," the farmer said angrily.

9.   "My sister finished reading the book five days ago," I said.

10.           "I always wonder what I'll do tomorrow," the tramp said.

 


 
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