1. Indirect Speech: Tense Changes16
Indirect Speech: Tense Changes
Rumors and Gossip
Focus on Grammar
Part II, Unit 16

2. Rumors and Gossip
Have you heard the latest gossip about the new teacher?
Maria said that the new teacher didn’t give any homework.
Really! Viktor told me that students could eat in his class.
Larisa said that the new teacher had given all the students an A last semester.
No, what is it?
Wow! Yeah, I heard he was an easy teacher.

3. Indirect Speech 1 Direct Speech Indirect Speech Simple Present
When the reporting verb is in the simple past, the verb tense in the indirect speech statement often changes.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
Simple Present
Present Progressive
Simple Past Tense
Present Perfect
 Simple Past
 Past Progressive
 Past Perfect
 Past Perfect

4. Examples 1 “The teacher is strict.” She said the teacher was strict.
He said the teacher was giving everyone an A.
“The teacher is giving everyone an A.”

5. Examples 2 She said somebody had put the final exam on the Internet.
“Somebody put the final exam on the Internet.”
“The teacher has graded our grammar tests.”
Joe said the teacher had graded our grammar tests.

6. Practice 1 Example: Change the direct speech into indirect speech.
“My friend is helping me study.” She said…
She said her friend was helping her study.
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…
He said the library was closed.
They said they had registered for classes.
You said she had gotten an A on the test.

7. Indirect Speech 2 Direct Speech Indirect Speech will can may must
Modals often change in indirect speech.
Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
will
can
may
must
 would
 could
 might
 had to

8. Examples 1 “The test will be difficult.”
He said the test would be difficult.
“You can use your notes on the test.”
She said we could use our notes on the test.

9. Examples 2 “We may have a substitute teacher.”
She said we might have a substitute teacher.
“You must study hard for the final exam.”
She said we had to study hard for the final exam.

10. Practice 2 Example: Change the direct speech into indirect speech.
“You can relax about the exam.” She said…
She said I could relax about the exam.
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…
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.

11. 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.

12. Indirect Speech 4
The following do not change in indirect speech: the past perfect, the present and past unreal conditional, and past modals.
“I could have gotten help from a tutor.”
“If I had studied, I would have gotten an A.”
“I thought I had chosen the easy teacher.”
He said he thought he had chosen the easy teacher.
He said if he had studied, he would have gotten an A.
He said he could have gotten help from a tutor.

13. Practice 3 Change the direct speech into indirect speech. Example:
“We ought to study some more.” He said…
He said we ought to study some more.
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…
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.