176 GRAMMAR REVISITED 1 Tense changes When you report at a later time what somebody said (with a reporting verb in the past, e.g. said), the tenses in a statement or question may have to be changed: Present simple Steve: “I want to buy a Mr Fox mug.” Past simple Steve said that he wanted to buy a Mr Fox mug. Present continuous Steve: “I’m shopping for Lizzie’s birthday.” Past continuous Steve said that he was shopping for Lizzie’s birthday. Past simple Steve: “I tried to get her a Mr Fox mug.” Past perfect Steve said that he had tried to get her a Mr Fox mug. Present perfect Steve: “I’ve decided to go to Hebendam’s.” Past perfect Steve said that he had decided to go to Hebendam’s. will future Emily: “I’ll help you with the shopping.” Conditional (would) Emily said that she would help me with the shopping. Modal verbs (can, must) Steve: “I can never decide what to get for Lizzie.” Steve: “I must start thinking about Lizzie’s present earlier next year.” Modal verbs (could, had to) Steve said that he could never decide what to get for Lizzie. Steve said that he would have to start thinking about Lizzie’s present earlier next year. Other modal verbs like could, would, might and should stay the same. “We could go together.” Emily suggested that they could go together. When situations, feelings or opinions remain true or relevant when you report them, the tense usually stays the same in reported speech: Marc: “My little sister always puts lucky charms into my sports bag.” Marc said that his little sister always puts lucky charms into his sports bag. (= she still does this) In such cases, you generally only change the tense if you want to show that you do not believe what the person said: Marc: “My little sister is a genius.” Marc said that his little sister was a genius. (= I don’t believe this) 2 Changes regarding time and place When reporting a statement at a later time or in a different place, references to time and location may need to be changed. Reported speech You use reported speech to tell somebody about somebody else’s words or thoughts. now today tonight tomorrow next week/ month/year then that day that night the next/following day the next/following week/ month/year … ago yesterday last week/ month here this (place) … before the day before/ the previous day the week/month before/ the previous week/month there that (place) Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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