4. Changes in Indirect Speech

We make changes in time, places, determiners, etc when reporting the direct speech. Â

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
now then
today that day
tonight that night
last night the previous night, the night before
yesterday the previous day, the day before
tomorrow the next day, the day after
next week the following week
here there
this/these that/those
this (determiner) the

Modal verbs in indirect speech. Â

Direct Speech Indirect Speech
will would
can could
may might
shall should
must must
ought to ought to
used to used to

Examples:

  • "I  will  be a vegetarian from next year."
  • She said (that) she  would  be a vegetarian from next year.
  • "I can  swim like a fish."
  • He said he (that)  could  swim like a fish.
  • "We  may  start a new religion."  Â
  • They said they  might  start a new religion.
  • "I  shall  be judged only by God."
  • My grandfather said he  should  be judged only by God.
  • "You  must  behave yourself."
  • The teacher told me I  must  behave myself.
  • "You  ought to  stop talking to yourself."
  • My mother said I  ought to  stop talking to myself.
  • "I  used to  have many girlfriends even after his marriage."  Â
  • My father confessed that he  used to  have many girlfriends even after his marriage.

If the past form of modal verbs  would ,  could ,  might , and  should  is used in the direct speech, we do not change them in the indirect speech.

Examples:

  • Annie said, "I  would  hate to miss the puppet show  tonight ."
  • Annie said she  would  hate to miss the puppet show  that night .
  • Joe said, "We  could  go for a drive after lunch  tomorrow ."
  • Joe suggested that they  could  go for a drive after lunch  the next day .
  • Jennifer said to me, " Might  I ask you to do me a favour  this weekend ?"
  • Jennifer asked if I  might  do her a favour  that weekend .
  • Bob said, "You  should  be ashamed of yourselves for what you did  last night ."
  • Bob said that they  should  be ashamed of themselves for what they did  the night before .