No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

Last updated on November 20, 2024 by Grammargeek
No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech! You might know that when changing from direct to indirect speech, we need to change the verb tenses in certain ways. However, there is No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech when.

No Change in Verb Tenses in Reported Speech

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The Introductory Verb is in the Present, Present Perfect or Future

Example:

Direct speech: He says, “I will come”.

Reported speech: He says that he will come.

Fact or General Truth

If the reported sentence deals with a fact or general truth, the present tense is (can be) retained. 

Example:

Direct speech: Copernicus: “The planets revolve around the sun.“

Indirect speech: Copernicus stated that the planets revolve around the sun.

Time Clause

The reported sentence contains a time clause, the tenses of the time clause remain unchanged.

Example:

Direct speech: She said, “His parents died while he was still at school.”

Indirect speech: She said that his parents had died while he was still at school.

The Second or the Third Conditional

The verb of the sentence is in the unreal past (the second or the third conditional).

Example:

Direct speech: He said, “If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.“

Reported speech: He said that he would travel around the world if he won the lottery.

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive stays unchanged in the subordinate clause.

Example:

Direct speech: The children said, “We wish we didn’t have to take exams.”

Reported speech: The children said they wished they didn’t have to take exams.

“Had Better”, “Could”, “Would”, “Used to”, “Should”, “Might”, “Ought to” and “Mustn’t” Remain Unchanged

Example:

Direct speech: He said, “You had better to be inside in such bad weather.“

Indirect speech: He said that I had better to be inside in such bad weather.

 

Direct speech: He said, “Ann might ring today.”

Reported speech: He said that Ann might ring that day.

Report Something Immediately

If the speaker reports something immediately or soon after it was said, the clause often remains as spoken.

Example:

A: What did the teacher say?

B: He said that we write our lesson carefully.

No Tense Change in Reported Speech Examples

Here are examples of no tense change in reported speech, which occurs when the reporting verb is in the present tense, future tense, or the statement being reported is still true or universally valid.

1. Reporting Verb in Present Tense

  • Direct Speech: “I enjoy reading books.”
  • Reported Speech: He says that he enjoys reading books.

 

  • Direct Speech: “We are going to the park.”
  • Reported Speech: She says that they are going to the park.

2. Reporting Verb in Future Tense

  • Direct Speech: “I will help you.”
  • Reported Speech: She will say that she will help you.

 

  • Direct Speech: “They have finished their homework.”
  • Reported Speech: He will tell me that they have finished their homework.

3. Universal Truths

  • Direct Speech: “The Earth revolves around the Sun.”
  • Reported Speech: The teacher says that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

 

  • Direct Speech: “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.”
  • Reported Speech: The scientist explains that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

4. Unchanging Situations

  • Direct Speech: “My name is Sarah.”
  • Reported Speech: She says that her name is Sarah.

 

  • Direct Speech: “He lives in New York.”
  • Reported Speech: She tells me that he lives in New York.

Related Links

Reported Speech in English

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