reported speech: verb tense changes
direct speech → reported speech
- present simple - she said: ‘i like posting photos online.’ → past simple - she said (that) she liked posting photos online.
- present continuous - he said: i'm writing an email.' → past continuous - he said (that) he was writing an email.
- past simple - marta said: ‘i met john yesterday.’ → past perfect - marta said (that) she had met john the day before / the previous day.
- present perfect - pete said: 'i've already had breakfast.' → past perfect - pete said (that) he had already had breakfast.
- will - sean said: ‘i’ll meet him tomorrow.’ → would -sean said (that) he would meet him the following day / the next day.
- am / ls / are going to - they said: we're going to spend the weekend in the mountains.' → was / were going to - they said (that) they were going to spend the weekend in the mountains.
- can - she said: 'i can sing well.' → could - she said (that) she could sing well.
- may - abby said: ‘i may leave for london tomorrow.' → might - abby said (that) she might leave for london the following day / the next day
- must - he said: ‘you must pass the exam.' → had to - he said (that) i / we had to pass the exam.
- imperative - brian said: 'phone me!' → infinitive - brian said to phone him.