Notes on the form of indirect speech with tense changes

1 'Rules' in indirect speech Tense changes often occur in indirect speech because there is an interval between the original spoken words and the time when they are reported, but these changes are not always obligatory [> 15.10, 15.14-16]. It is the changing viewpoint of the reporting speaker or writer that decides the choice of appropriate forms, not complicated rules. The notes that follow are not 'rules', but are based on observation of what often happens in practice.

2 Linking phrases Indirect speech rarely occurs in sets of unrelated sentences, but is found in continuous paragraphs of reported language. Continuity is achieved by the use of linking phrases, such as: she went on to say, he continued, he added that, and by varying the reporting verbs: he observed, noted, remarked, etc. Such forms remind the reader that the language is reported. Many features present in direct speech, such as Yes/No short answers and speech 'fillers', such as Well, etc., disappear in indirect speech.

3 Tense changes [> 9.5] In indirect speech we do not usually repeat the speaker's exact words. Reporting usually takes place in the past, so the reporting verb is often in the past. As a result, the tenses of the reported clause are usually 'moved back'. This 'moving back' of tenses is called backshift. A useful general rule is 'present becomes past and past becomes past perfect'. 'Past' modals and the past perfect are unchanged when reported, since no further backshift is possible [> 15.12]. We must normally use the past perfect to report a statement whose verb was in the present perfect: 7 have lived in the south for years,' Mrs Duncan said Mrs Duncan told me (that) she had lived in the south for years If the verb in the original statement was in the simple past, we do not usually need to change it to the past perfect (unless we wish to emphasize that one event happened before another): I lived in Scotland in the 1970's Mrs Duncan said Mrs Duncan said that she (had) lived in Scotland in the 1970's

4 Pronoun changes Pronouns change (or not) depending on the view of the reporter: 'I'll send you a card Sue ' (actual words spoken by Ann) Ann told Sue she d send her a card (reported by someone else) Ann said/told me she would send me a card (reported by Sue) / told Sue (that) Id send her a card (reported by Ann) Some typical pronoun changes are:

/ he/she me/you him/her my his/her

we they us them our their

mine his/hers ours theirs myself himself/herself

5 Time and place changes

It is often necessary to make time and place changes in relation to

Indirect statements with tense changes

tense changes. For example, on Tuesday, A says:

'A card came yesterday saying Sue will arrive tomorrow '

B, reporting this on Wednesday, might say:

A told me a card had come the day before yesterday/on Monday

saying Sue would arrive today/on Wednesday

But time and place changes are not always necessary. If, for

example, it was still Tuesday when the statement above was

reported, B might say:

A told me a card came (or had come) yesterday saying Sue will (or

would) arrive tomorrow

Examples of possible time and place changes:

time: now immediately/then

two days ago two days before/earlier

today that day

tonight that night

tomorrow the next/the following day

yesterday the previous day/the day before

last night the night before

place: here there when what is referred to is clear

this place that place

these places those places

verbs: come/bring go/take

6 Modal verbs

'Modal present' becomes 'modal past' [> 11.8.3]:

e.g. can becomes could; will becomes would; may becomes might:

7 can/will/may see you later,' he said

He said he could/would/might see me later

Shall

When shall is used with future reference for prediction, speculation, etc. it becomes would in indirect speech: I shall tell him exactly what I think, she said She said she would tell him exactly what she thought When shall is used in offers, suggestions or requests for advice it becomes should (even after the second and third persons): Shall I speak to him in person?' she asked She asked whether she should speak to him in person