Reported Speech

Note
Tell me
Say to me

Active Voice Tense Forms

Reported Speech

When reporting verbs (e.g. said) in the past
WE USE ONE TENS BACK RULE.

REPORTED SPEECH
Modal Verbs

can
may (possibility)
may (permission)
will
might
must
have to
should
ought to
shall
shall
could
might
Could
would
might
had to
had to
should
ought to
would (future)
should (ask for advice

REPORTED SPEECH
Adverbs of Time

Yesterday
next month
next year
the previous day, the day before
the following month, the next month, a month later
the following year, the next, year, a year later

last month
last year
in two days weeks)
the month before, the previous month, the preceding month
the year before, the previous year, the preceding year
two days from then, two weeks from then

five days ago
five weeks ago
here
five days before, five days earlier
five weeks before, five weeks earlier
there

REPORTING STATEMENT
I AM HOT!
HE EXPLANED (THAT) HE WAS HOT
AM,IS,ARE WAS-WERE

REPORTING REQUESTS AND ORDERS
CLOSE THE DOOR, PLEASE!
HE ASKED ME TO CLOSE THE DOOR.
TO
(to is used for affirmative)
PLEASE DON’T SHOUT!
SHE ASKED ME NOT TO SHOUT!
NOT TO
(not to is used for negative)

REPORTING QUESTIONS
Where is Tom?
She asked where Tom was.

REPORTING QUESTIONS
INFORMATION QUESTIONS
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED?
HE WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I NEEDED
NO QUESTION FOR JUST ONLY AFIRMATIVE FORM AND ONE TENSE BACK RULE)

YES, NO QUESTIONS
IF OR WHETHER
ARE YOU TIRED?
HE ASKED IF(WHETHER) I WAS TIRED?
NO QUESTION FOR JUST ONLY AFIRMATIVE FORM AND ONE TENSE BACK RULE)