When we use reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past (Paul
said that ... / I
told her that ... etc.). The rest of the sentence is usually past too:
- Paul said that he was feeling ill.
- I told Lisa that I didn't have any money.
You can leave out
that. So you can say:
- Paul said that he was feeling ill. or Paul said he was feeling ill.
In general, the present form in direct speech changes to the past form in reported speech:
- am/is -> was
- do/does -> did
- will -> would
- are -> were
- have/has -> had
- can -> could
- want/like/know/go etc. -> wanted/liked/knew/went etc.
Compare direct speech and reported speech:
| You met Anna. Here are some of the things she said in direct speech: |
Later you tell somebody what Anna said. You use reported speech: |
| My parents are fine. |
Anna said that her parents were fine. |
| I'm going to learn to drive. |
She said that she was going to learn to drive. |
| I want to buy a car. |
She said that she wanted to buy a car. |
| John has a new job. |
She said that John had a new job. |
| I can't come to the party on Friday. |
She said that she couldn't come to the party on Friday. |
| I don't have much free time. |
She said she didn't have much free time. |
| I'm going away for a few days. I'll phone you when I get back. |
She said that she was going away for a few days and would phone me when she got back. |
