Read this example: ‘I prefer my own friends’, said Paulo – Direct speech Paulo said (that) he preferred his own friend – Reported speech Direct speech Verb changes Reported speech ‘I hate soap operas.’ Present simple → Past simple ‘I don’t like this sitcom.’ ‘I’m watching TV tonight.’ Guy said that he hated soap operas Oscar said that he didn’t like that sitcom Present continuous → Past continuous Julie said that she was watching TV that night Past simple → Past perfect simple Mark said that he had watched the film on TV the day before ‘I’ve just turned the TV off’ Present perfect simple → Past perfect simple My brother told me he had just turned the TV off ‘We had finished all the work when Richard arrived’ Past perfect simple → Past perfect simple Peter said they had finished all the work when Richard arrived will → would The teacher said she would help me in a few minutes am/are/is going to → was/were going to She told me she was going to watch the news ‘I watched the film on TV yesterday.’ ‘I’ll help you in a few minutes.’ ‘I’m going to watch the news.’ Other changes Direct speech today, tonight this morning/week tomorrow now this these here Reported speech that day, that night that morning/week the next day, the following day then that those there Personal pronouns and possessive determiners also change ‘I feel tired’, said Tom Tom said he felt tired ‘That’s my favourite song’, said Michelle Michelle said that was her favourite song Say and tell We can use say and tell to report direct speech Compare the pair of sentences Tom said he felt tired Tom told me he felt tired I said that I was going to sleep… Rewrite the sentences in reported speech ‘I watch a film on Saturdays.’ Caroline said ‘He’s my best friend.’ Fed told me _ ‘The scarf is in my bag.’ Janice said ‘This film wasn’t very interesting.’ Tom told me ‘This isn’t my school.’ Jerry said _ ‘We’ll walk for half an hour’ Yesterday Jennifer told me _ ‘These T-shirts don’t fit me.’ Mike said ‘We’re parking our car here.’ They said ‘It’s my boyfriend’s birthday party tomorrow.’ Helen told me _ 10 ‘I think there will be a students’ meeting very soon.’ He said 11 ‘It’s difficult to finish this project this week.’ The students said 12 ‘I’m not busy now.’ Alicia told me _ 13 ‘I don’t want these CDs anymore.’ My brother said 14 ‘We feel fine now.’ The girls said _ 15 ‘We’re going to the shopping today.’ My parents told me _ 16 ‘She had finished her homework when I arrived.’ Mary said 17 ‘I often think about my future.’ Marik said 18 ‘I go the doctor tomorrow I am not feeling well’ Helen said