Changing verbs when converting direct speech to indirect speech involves adjusting their tense based primarily on the tense of the reporting verb (the verb introducing the reported speech, like 'said', 'says', 'told').
Understanding the Core Rule: Tense Backshift
The most common change in verb tense occurs when the reporting verb is in the past tense. In this case, the verb in the direct speech typically moves one step back into the past (this is called tense backshift).
Example:
- Direct: He said, "I am tired." (Simple Present)
- Indirect: He said (that) he was tired. (Simple Past)
The Reporting Verb's Influence
As highlighted in the reference:
If the reporting verb is in the Present or Future Tense, the tenses of the Direct Speech do not change.
This is a crucial exception to the backshift rule. When someone reports speech immediately or states a general truth using a present or future reporting verb, the original verb tense is usually preserved.
Examples from the reference:
-
Direct: He says/will say,“I am unwell.”
-
Indirect: He says/will say he is unwell.
-
Direct: He said,“I am unwell.” (Here the reporting verb is past, so backshift occurs)
-
Indirect: He said (that) he was unwell.
Common Tense Changes (When Reporting Verb is in the Past Tense)
When the reporting verb is in the past tense (e.g., said, told, asked), here are the typical tense changes:
- Simple Present changes to Simple Past
- Direct: "I eat breakfast."
- Indirect: He said he ate breakfast.
- Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous
- Direct: "I am eating."
- Indirect: She said she was eating.
- Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect
- Direct: "I have finished."
- Indirect: He said he had finished.
- Present Perfect Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous
- Direct: "I have been waiting."
- Indirect: She said she had been waiting.
- Simple Past changes to Past Perfect
- Direct: "I went home."
- Indirect: He said he had gone home.
- Past Continuous changes to Past Perfect Continuous
- Direct: "I was studying."
- Indirect: She said she had been studying.
- Future (will) changes to Conditional (would)
- Direct: "I will come."
- Indirect: He said he would come.
- Future Continuous (will be + -ing) changes to Conditional Continuous (would be + -ing)
- Direct: "I will be working."
- Indirect: She said she would be working.
Changes in Modal Verbs
Modal verbs also typically change when the reporting verb is in the past:
- Can changes to Could
- Direct: "I can swim."
- Indirect: He said he could swim.
- May changes to Might
- Direct: "It may rain."
- Indirect: She said it might rain.
- Must often changes to Had to or remains Must (depending on context)
- Direct: "I must leave."
- Indirect: He said he had to leave. / He said he must leave.
- Shall often changes to Should or Would
- Direct: "I shall go." (Suggestion/Future)
- Indirect: He said he should go. / He said he would go.
Note: Could, would, should, might, and ought to generally do not change.
Summary Table of Verb Changes (Past Reporting Verb)
| Direct Speech Tense/Modal | Indirect Speech Tense/Modal | Example Change |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Simple Past | am -> was, eat -> ate |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous | am eating -> was eating |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect | have finished -> had finished |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous | have been waiting -> had been waiting |
| Simple Past | Past Perfect | went -> had gone |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous | was studying -> had been studying |
| Will (+ base verb) | Would (+ base verb) | will come -> would come |
| Can (+ base verb) | Could (+ base verb) | can swim -> could swim |
| May (+ base verb) | Might (+ base verb) | may rain -> might rain |
| Must (+ base verb) | Had to (+ base verb) / Must | must leave -> had to leave |
| Shall (+ base verb) | Should (+ base verb) / Would | shall go -> should go / would go |
| Could, Would, Should, Might etc. | Usually no change | could help -> could help |
Other Necessary Changes
While verb tense changes are key, remember that converting to indirect speech also often requires changes to:
- Pronouns: (I -> he/she, my -> his/her, we -> they, etc.)
- Time and Place Expressions: (now -> then, here -> there, today -> that day, tomorrow -> the next day, etc.)
Mastering the change in verbs primarily involves understanding the tense backshift rule for past reporting verbs and the exception for present/future reporting verbs, as well as changes to modal verbs.
