Page 280 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

TENSE CHANGES

When we tell people what somebody said in the past, there is a time difference.
(For example, somebody said something on Sunday, and I tell you about it on Monday.)
Because of this, tenses usually change as follows:

DIRECT SPEECH ON SUNDAY TENSE CHANGE INDIRECT SPEECH ON MONDAY

The children are in Ireland. AM/ARE/IS —► WAS/WERE Karen said her children were in Ireland.
My TV isn't working. He said his TV wasn't working.

1 have a meeting at 4.00. HAVE/HAS —► HAD She said she had a meeting at 4.00.

Sue has passed her exam. Sally told me Sue had passed her exam.

1will probably be late. WILL —► WOULD 1thought 1would probably be late.
You can have three tickets. CAN COULD The man said 1could have three tickets.

It doesn't matter, Martin. DO/DOES —>►DID 1told Martin it didn't matter.

The train leaves at 6.00. SIMPLE PRESENT —► SIMPLE PAST The timetable said the train left at 6.00.
We all speak English. She said they all spoke English.
1 forgot my keys. SIMPLE PAST —► PAST PERFECT He said he had forgotten his keys.

^ Rewrite the sentences in indirect speech, changing the tenses. Begin He/She/They said ...
► SALLY- 'I'm tired' .She scad (that) she was tired.
1 ANNA: 'My sister needs a car.' .......................................................................................................
2 DANIEL: 'I have to phone Andrew.' ................................................................................................

3 MARY: 'Nobody wants to help me.'

4 HELEN: 'The radio doesn't work.' ..
5 BEN: 'I will be in Paris in July.' ......
6 MIKE: 'I like the red sweater.' .......
7 DAVID: 'I can't swim.' ...................
8 ALICE: 'My parents are travelling.' .

9 MARIA: 'The lessons are very good.'

10 BRAD AND AMY: 'We haven't heard from Joseph.'

Q Look at the picture to see what John thought when
he was small. Write his thoughts in indirect speech. ANIMALS CAN TALK. CATS HAVE NINE LIVESJ
Ht th o u g h t ai/u.i'u.als co u ld taIte
MY FATHER. KNOWS EVERYTHING.

SPAGHETTI GROWS ON TREES. y
THE TEACHER LIVES IN THE SCHOOL.
_*
I WIU- BE RICH ONE DAY. I A ^ 1

MY MOTHER HAG
ALWAYS BEEN OLD.

0 What did you think when you were small? Write three or more sentences.

1 .............................................................................................................................
2

3 .............................................................................................................................
4 .............................................................................................................................
5 .............................................................................................................................

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full INDIRECT SPEECH 265
forms (for example lam, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.