REPORTED SPEECH: CHANGE OF TIME AND

PLACE
Time/place references change when using reported speech

Example

 “I will see you here tomorrow“, she said. —–> She said that she would see me there
the next day.

The most common of these changes are shown below:

Today   that day

“I saw him  today“, she said.    
    the day before
“I saw him  yesterday“, she said. She said that she had seen him the day
 
before.
The day before yesterday   two days before
“I met her the day before yesterday“, He said that he had met her two days
 
he said. before.
Tomorrow   the next/following day
“I’ll see you tomorrow“, he said He said that he would see me the next
 
day.
The day after tomorrow   in two days time/ two days later
“We’ll come the day after tomorrow“, They said that they would come in two
 
they said. days time/ two days later.
Next week/month/year   the following week/month/year
“I have an appointment next week“, She said that she had an
 
she said. appointment the following week.
Last week/month/year   the previous/week/month/year
“I was on holiday  last week“, he told He told us that he had been on
 
us. holiday the previous week.
ago   before
“I saw her  a week ago,” he said.   He said he had seen her a week before.
this (for time)   that
“I’m getting a new car this week”, she She said she was getting a new
 
said. car that week.
this/that (adjectives)   the
“Do you like this shirt?” he asked   He asked if I liked the shirt.
here   there
He said, “I live here“.   He told me he lived there.
PRACTICE

complete the sentences in reported speech.

1. John said, "I love this town."

John said
2. "Do you like soccer ?" He asked me.

He asked me
3. "I can't drive a lorry," he said.

He said
4. "Be nice to your brother," he said.

He asked me
5. "Don't be nasty," he said.

He urged me
6. "Don't waste your money" she said.

She told the boys

7. "What have you decided to do?" she asked him.

She asked him

8. "I always wake up early," he said.

He said
9. "You should revise your lessons," he said.

He advised the students

10. "Where have you been?" he asked me.

He wanted to know