Notes on Indirect Speech

Past tenses sometimes remain unchanged

A)    In theory the past tense changes to the past perfect, but in spoken English it is often left unchanged, provided this can be done without causing confusion about the relative times of the actions.

For example,

He said, “I loved her” must become He said he had loved her as otherwise there would be a change of meaning.

But  He said, “Ann arrived on Monday” could be reported He said Ann arrived/had arrived on Monday.

B)      The past continuous tense in theory changes to the past perfect continuous but in practice usually remains unchanged except when it refers to a completed action:

She said, “We were thinking of selling the house but we have decided not to” =

She said that they had been thinking of selling the house but had decided not to.

But  He said, “When I saw them they were playing tennis” =

He said that when he saw them they were playing tennis.

C)     In written English past tenses usually do change to past perfect but there are the following exceptions:

1)   Past/Past continuous tenses in time clauses do not normally change:

He said, “When we were living/lived in Paris . . .” = He said that when they were living in Paris . . .

The main verb of such sentences can either remain unchanged or become the past perfect:

He said, “When we were living/lived in Paris we often saw Paul” = He said that when they were living/lived in Paris they often saw/had often seen Paul.

2)   A past tense used to describe a state of affairs which still exists when the speech is reported remains unchanged:

She said, “I decided not to buy the house because it was on a main road” =

She said that she had decided not to buy the house because it was on a main road.

Expressions of time and place in indirect speech

A)         Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time change as follows:

Direct	Indirect
today	that day
yesterday	the day before
the day before yesterday	two days before
tomorrow	the next day/the following day
the day after tomorrow	in two days ' time
next week/year etc.	the following week/year etc.
last week/year etc.	the previous week/year etc.
a year etc. ago	a year before/the previous year

“I saw her the day before yesterday,” he said = He said he’d seen her two days before.

“I’ll do it tomorrow,” he promised = He promised that he would do it the next day.

“I’m starting the day after tomorrow, mother,” he said = He told his mother that he was starting in two days’ time.

She said, “My father died a year ago” = She said that her father had died a year before/the previous year.

B)         But if the speech is made and reported on the same day these time changes are not necessary:

At breakfast this morning he said, I’ll be very busy today” =

At breakfast this morning he said that he would be very busy today.

C)         Logical adjustments are of course necessary if a speech is reported one/two days after it is made.

On Monday Jack said to Tom: “I’m leaving the day after tomorrow”.

If Tom reports this speech on the next day (Tuesday) he will probably say:

Jack said he was leaving tomorrow.

If he reports it on Wednesday, he will probably say:

Jack said he was leaving today.

D)         Here can become there but only when it is clear what place is meant:

At the station he said, “I’ll be here again tomorrow” = He said that he’d be there again the next day.

Usually here has to be replaced by some phrase:

She said, “You can sit here, Tom” = She told Tom that he could sit beside her etc...  

But  He said, “Come here, boys” would normally be reported: He called the boys.

 Let's, let us, let him/them in indirect speech

A)        let's

1)      let's usually expresses a suggestion and is reported by suggest in indirect speech:

He said, “Let's leave the case at the station” would be reported:

He suggested leaving the case at the station or He suggested that they/we should leave the case at the station.

He said, “Let's stop now and finish it later” would be reported:

He suggested stopping then and finishing it later or He suggested that they/we should stop then and finish it later.

Similarly in the negative:

He said, “Let's not say anything about it till we hear the facts” = He suggested not saying anything/saying nothing about it till they heard the facts or He suggested that they shouldn't say anything till they heard the facts.

But let’s not used alone in answer to an affirmative suggestion is often reported by some phrase such as opposed the idea/was against it/objected.

So that we could report:

“Let’s sell the house,” said Tom. “Let’s not,” said Ann by Tom suggested selling the house but Ann was against it.

2)  let's/let us sometimes expresses a call to action. It is then usually reported by urge/advise + object + infinitive:

The strike leader said, “Let’s show the bosses that we are united” = The strike leader urged the workers to show the bosses that they were united.

  

B)         let him/them

1)     In theory let him/them expresses a command. But very often the speaker has no authority over the person who is to obey the command:

“It’s not my business,” said the postman. “Let the government do something about it.”

Here, the speaker is not issuing a command but expressing an obligation. Sentences of this type are therefore normally reported by ought/should:

He said that it wasn’t his business and that the government ought to/should do something about it.

2)     Sometimes, however, let him/them does express a command. It is then usually reported by say + be + infinitive:

“Let the boys clear up this mess,” said the headmaster = The headmaster said that the boys were to clear up the mess.

“Let the guards be armed,” he ordered = He ordered that the guards should be armed.

3)     Sometimes let him/them is more a suggestion than a command. In such cases it is usually reported by suggest, or say + should:

She said, “Let them go to their consul. He’ll be able to help them” = She suggested their/them going to their consul etc. or

She suggested that they should go to their consul or

She said that they should go to their consul.

4)     let him/them can also indicate the speaker’s indifference:

“The neighbours will complain,” said Ann.

“Let them (complain),” said Tom = Tom expressed indifference or

Tom said he didn't mind (if they complained).

C)        let there be

Here the speaker could be ordering, advising, urging or begging:

“Let there be no reprisals,” said the widow of the murdered man = The widow urged/begged that there should be no reprisals.

    

D)        let is also an ordinary verb meaning allow/permit:

“Let him come with us, mother; I’ll take care of him,” I said =

I asked my mother to let him come with us and promised to take care of him.

Exclamations and yes and no

A)   Exclamations usually become statements in indirect speech. The exclamation mark disappears.

1)     Exclamations beginning What (a) ... or How . . . can be reported (a) by exclaim/say that:

He said, “What a dreadful idea!” or “How dreadful!” = He exclaimed that it was a dreadful idea/was dreadful

or (b) by give an exclamation of delight/disgust/horror/relief/surprise etc.

Alternatively, if the exclamation is followed by an action we can use the construction (c) with an exclamation of delight/disgust etc. + he/she etc. + verb.

2)     Other types of exclamation, such as Good! Marvellous! Splendid! Heavens! Oh! Ugh! etc. can be reported as in (b) or (c) above:

“Good!” he exclaimed = He gave an exclamation of pleasure/satisfaction.

“Ugh!” she exclaimed, and turned the programme off = With an exclamation of disgust she turned the programme off.

3)     Note also:

He said, “Thank you!” = He thanked me.

He said, “Curse this fog!” = He cursed the fog.

He said, “Good luck!” = He wished me luck.

He said, “Happy Christmas!” = He wished me a happy Christmas.

He said, “Congratulations!” = He congratulated me.

He said, “Liar!” = He called me a liar.

He said, “Damn!” etc. = He swore.

The notice said: ‘WELCOME TO WALES’. = The notice welcomed visitors to Wales.

   

B)    yes and no are expressed in indirect speech by subject + appropriate auxiliary verb:

He said, “Can you swim?” and I said “No” = He asked (me) if I could swim and I said I couldn't.

He said, “Will you have time to do it?” and I said “Yes” = He asked if I would have time to do it and I said that I would.

(From A.J. Thomson, A.V.Martinet A Practical English Grammar)