Reported Speech Reported speech is often also called

Reported Speech Reported speech is often also called indirect speech. When we use reported speech, we are usually talking about the past (because obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past). The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too. For example: "I'm going to the cinema". He said he was going to the cinema.

The tenses generally move backwards in this way (the tense on the left changes to the tense on the right):

Other verb forms also sometimes change:

Time and place references often have to change:

Transform the sentences into the reported speech Ex. She/He said that… His train leaves at 6 o’clock. Her friend is waiting outside. She doesn’t remember where Tom leaves. I stayed at the hotel 2 years ago. I’ve been ill for a week. You came too late. Helen’s brother is not a teacher. It’s snowing heavily. I’ve read half a book already. She’s just ordered a table at the restaurant.