Place, demonstratives and time expressions
Place, demonstratives and time expressions change if the context of the reported statement (i.e. the location and/or the period of time) is different from that of the direct speech.
In the following table, you will find the different changes of place; demonstratives and time expressions.
Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
---|---|
Time Expressions | |
today | that day |
now | then |
yesterday | the day before |
… days ago | … days before |
last week | the week before |
next year | the following year |
tomorrow | the next day / the following day |
Place | |
here | there |
Demonstratives | |
this | that |
these | those |
B. Reporting Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
Also note that you have to:
- pronouns
- place and time expressions
- tenses (backshift)
- transform the question into an indirect question
- use the question word (where, when, what, how) or if / whether
Types of questions Direct speech Reported speech With question word (what, why, where, how...) "Why" don’t you speak English?” He asked me why I didn’t speak English. Without question word (yes or no questions) “Do you speak English?” He asked me whether / if I spoke English.
C. Reporting requests / commands
When transforming requests and commands, check whether you have to change:
- pronouns
- place and time expressions
Direct speech | Reported speech |
---|---|
“Nancy,do the exercise.“ | He told Nancy to do the exercise. |
"Nancy, give me your pen, please." | He asked Nancy to give him her pen. |
Tenses are not relevant for requests – simply use to / not to + verb (infinitive without "to") |
Example:
She said, “Sit down." - She asked me to sit down.
She said, "don't be lazy" - She asked me not to be lazy
For affirmative use to + infinitive (without to)
For negative requests, use not to + infinitive (without to).
|
D. Other transformations
- Expressions of advice with must, should and ought are usually reported using advise / urge.
Example:
“You must read this book.“
He advised / urged me to read that book.- The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are two possibilities for reported speech: gerund or statement with should.
Example:
“Let’s go to the cinema.“=
1. He suggested going to the cinema.
2. He suggested that we should go to the cinema.
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