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." |
Peter:
"I would work in the garden." |
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.