Indirect Speech:
Tense Changes
Rumors and Gossip
10
Focus on Grammar 4
Part X, Unit 26
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.`
Larisa said that the new teacher had given all the students an A last semester.
Really! Viktor told me that students could eat in his class.
No, what is it?
Rumors and Gossip
Have you heard the latest gossip about the new teacher?
Wow! Yeah, I heard he was an easy teacher.
Maria said that the new teacher didn’t give any homework.
Indirect Speech 1
When the reporting verb is in the simple past, the verb tense in the indirect speech statement often changes.
 Simple Past
 Past Progressive
 Past Perfect
 Past Perfect
Examples 1
“The teacher is strict.”
She said the teacher was strict.
“The teacher is giving everyone an A.”
He said the teacher was giving everyone an A.
Examples 2
“Somebody put the final exam on the Internet.”
She said somebody had put the final exam on the Internet.
“The teacher has graded our grammar tests.”
Joe said the teacher had graded our grammar tests.
Practice 1
1. “The library is closed.” He said…


2. “We have registered for classes.” They said…


3. “She got an A on the test.” You said…
Change the direct speech into indirect speech.
“My friend is helping me study.” She said…
Example:
She said her friend was helping her study.
He said the library was closed.
They said they had registered for classes.
You said she had gotten an A on the test.
Indirect Speech 2
Modals often change in indirect speech.
 would
 could
 might
 had to
Examples 1
“The test will be difficult.”
He said the test would be difficult.
She said we could use our notes on the test.
“You can use your notes on the test.”
Examples 2
She said we had to study hard for the final exam.
“You must study hard for the final exam.”
“We may have a substitute teacher.”
She said we might have a substitute teacher.
Practice 2
1. “We’ll help you with your homework.” They said…


2. “Anna must finish her paper.” He said…


3. “She may take a different class.” You said…
Change the direct speech into indirect speech.
“You can relax about the exam.” She said…
Example:
She said I could relax about the exam.
They said they would help me with my homework.
He said Anna had to finish her paper.
You said she might take a different class.
Indirect Speech 3
The following modals do not change in indirect speech: should, could, might, and ought to.
“You shouldn’t tell this secret to anyone.”
She said I shouldn’t tell this secret to anyone.
“You ought to tell this to a friend.”
!
He said I ought to tell this to a friend.
“I could have gotten help from a tutor.”
He said he could have gotten help from a tutor.
He said if he had studied, he would have gotten an A.
“I thought I had chosen the easy teacher.”
“If I had studied, I would have gotten an A.”
He said he thought he had chosen the easy teacher.
Indirect Speech 4
The following do not change in indirect speech: the past perfect, the present and past unreal conditional, and past modals.
Practice 3
1. “If I knew, I would tell you.” She said…


2. “I might have known the test was difficult.” He said…


3. “She had had that teacher before.” We said…
Change the direct speech into indirect speech.
“We ought to study some more.” He said…
Example:
He said we ought to study some more.
She said if she knew, she would tell me.
He said he might have known the test was difficult.
We said she had had that teacher before.
References
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.